Nigeria, July 18 -- Justice is the first condition of humanity. - Wole Soyinka, The Man Died

All protocols duly observed, I must thank the organizers of this symposium to mark the 90th birthday of WS, our own WS, for inviting me to give the keynote address. Presently, I shall speak about the celebrant but for now, permit me to make some opening remarks about the theme of our symposium.

The death of truth? No, the unending war between truth and falsehood, with justice between them as a sort of umpire or intercessor. Ordinarily, people don't talk much about truth itself, talk less about the death of truth. They talk about their children, their siblings, their neighbours and their jobs - if they have jobs. They give thanks or give curses f...