What Kongi Says About Ruling Class.

Wole Soyinka has spent decades as a "confrontational intellectual," framing the ruling class in Black Africa as a predatory "comprador class" that inherited and maintained the oppressive structures of colonial rule. His critiques consistently emphasize several core themes: 

The Nature of Post-Colonial Power

The "Strong Man" Syndrome: Soyinka describes the ruling class as afflicted by a "strong man syndrome," where leadership seeks total domination and control rather than accountability.

A "Fiefdom" of Slaves: He famously stated that under the rule of dictators, a nation ceases to exist, becoming instead a "fiefdom" where citizens are "regimented" by their own leaders.

Impunity and Divine Right: He criticizes leaders who act as if they have a "divine right to mess up our lives," often using religious grounds to foster a culture of impunity. 

The "Comprador" Mentality

Black Skin, White Masks: Soyinka views many post-independence leaders as "compradors" who continue the colonial legacy, using Western norms and bureaucracies as weapons to dominate common people for individual benefit.

Inherited Architecture: Recently, in December 2025, he criticized the "proximity to power" seen in the children of leaders, warning that they must not "inherit the architecture of state power" simply because they are close to the presidency. 

Critiques of Governance and Insecurity

Security Excesses: In 2025, Soyinka rebuked the "excessively large security battalions" assigned to non-office holders, calling it a misuse of state resources.

Reflexive Militarism: He warned against "unnecessary military entanglement" in neighboring states (specifically Benin Republic in late 2025), urging leaders to strengthen democratic safeguards at home instead.

Impeding Development: He argues the centralized federal government often "impedes the pace of development" and calls for "uncompromising developmental autonomy" for regions to reduce the center's overbearing power. 

The Role of the Citizenry

The "Man Dies" in Silence: His most iconic dictum, "The man dies in all who keep silent in the face of tyranny," serves as a perennial indictment of those who allow the ruling class to act without criticism.

"Enslavement in DNA": In June 2025, he stunned audiences by suggesting that for many Africans, their "freedom lives in their enslavement," criticizing the persistent celebration of failed leaders by the public.