WOLE TO READ AFRICAN PLAYS ON BBC

Wole Soyinka will judge the 2010 BBC World Service African Drama competition.
The highly respected Nigerian professor, writer, poet, playwright and Nobel Literature Laureate will be on the panel of judges at the BBC World Service’s 50th season of African radio drama BBC African performance launch.
Listeners have until February 15, 2009 to enter their plays, which must be half an hour long when read aloud and have no more than six main characters.
Plays that are short-listed will be read by Soyinka, who will make the final decision. The winners will be announced on March 1, 2009.
Soyinko believes the BBC’s season of African radio drama penetrates Africa’s borders.
“In one fell swoop – they listen in Zimbabwe at the same time as in Sudan, South Africa, Nigeria and Sierra Leone,” he points out. “And this is definitely a crossing of boundaries in a way that even the written word on its own might not have.”
By way of celebrating five decades of African radio drama excellence on the BBC World Service, Soyinko has agreed to judge the contest this year.
BBC World Service English drama producer for Africa Jenny Horrocks says, “We are looking forward to new brilliant entries from our audiences.”