Image: Professor Wole Soyinka.
On June 6th 2025 Trinity College Dublin hosted the 27th Wole Soyinka Lecture, titled "Building Resilient, Cohesive Communities and the Challenges of Global Migration". The event brought together 200 attendees from many different countries and emerged from a powerful collaboration between the National Association of Seadogs (NAS), founded by the conference's guest of honour Professor Wole Soyinka and six students in 1952, and Trinity's Centre for Forced Migration Studies. Soyinka, born in 1934, is widely regarded as one of Africa's greatest writers and was awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize in Literature for his "wide cultural perspective and poetic overtones fashioning the drama of existence". Beyond producing three novels, ten collections of short stories, seven poetry collections, twenty-five plays and five memoirs, he has demonstrated unwavering commitment to social justice, imprisoned for 22 months during Nigeria's civil war for his activism against political oppression.
Since 1952, the NAS has been in pursuit of a just and egalitarian society, promoting a society that upholds human dignity and is just to all. The organisation has conducted 50 free medical missions since 2010, specifically targeted at rural communities to bridge healthcare gaps. Trinity's Centre for Forced Migration Studies, directed by Dr Rachel Hoare, addresses the reality that conflict, violence and other crises left a record 110 million people worldwide displaced by mid-2023. Trinity joined the University of Sanctuary network in March 2021, reflecting its commitment to providing safe haven for displaced individuals.
Professor Soyinka spoke movingly about his life and literary work, sharing his deeply felt connection to Ireland and its people. Dr Rachel Hoare delivered the keynote lecture on "Nurturing Resilience: Trauma-Informed Practice and Expressive Arts for Young People in Ireland's Protection System", exploring how creative expression provides pathways for displaced young people to process trauma while building resilience. Her presentation drew powerful connections between art and healing that resonated with Professor Soyinka's own use of literature as a vehicle for social change.
Dr Gillian Wylie examined "Cities of Sanctuary as Spaces of Resilience: Reflecting on Dublin", exploring how urban environments can facilitate or hinder integration of displaced populations. Her research on human trafficking brought critical insights into the vulnerabilities faced by those seeking sanctuary, highlighting how cities like Dublin grapple with becoming genuine spaces of welcome rather than mere transit points.
Image: Dr Rachel Hoare giving the keynote lecture.
Mr Anton Floyd provided a poetic interlude with reflections from his UNESCO-recognized work, offering participants emotional engagement with displacement themes beyond academic discourse.
The conference culminated in a moderated discussion led by Dr Lylian Fotabong and Rev Zubby Agboifo, featuring Dr David Nyaluke, Dr Kunle Animashaun, Ms Angelika Sharygina, and Cllr Kelechi JK Onwumere. The panel explored the integration of migrant communities and examined the increasingly important role of artificial intelligence in people's migration journeys, from navigation and communication tools to accessing services and building connections in host communities. This gathering of international delegates embodied the global collaboration necessary to address forced migration challenges.
Mr Bart Akelemor, National Association of Seadogs
Dr Rachel Hoare, Trinity Centre for Forced Migration Studies
For further information on this event please email Dr Rachel Hoare at <rmhoare@tcd.ie>.
Image: Professor Wole Soyinka and audience.