Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has expressed concern about the impact of technology, stating that its introduction is giving rise to a new generation of illiterates. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the CANEX Live Theatre during the 3rd Intra-African Trade Fair, IATF 2023, in Cairo, Egypt on November 10, Soyinka emphasized the dual nature of the Internet culture.
While acknowledging the positive aspects, such as its role in movements like the Arab Spring, Soyinka cautioned against the negative side characterized by a “tyrannical, insolent, and abusive culture” he referred to as the new Internet culture. He highlighted the downgrading and despising of real creativity in favor of a populist and subversive culture that contributes to the creation of a new generation of illiterates.
Soyinka drew attention to the degradation of meaningful culture, particularly in Nigerian society, where the abuse of Internet technology facilitates the erosion of the true essence of culture. He urged vigilance against the abuse of culture through network-facilitated means, emphasizing the importance of preserving the genuine and meaningful aspects that contribute to the improvement of humanity’s intellectual pursuits and understanding.
