In certain situations in the past, Wole Soyinka used hats to hide his characteristic bushy hair when he wanted to avoid being recognised.
This is how Soyinka describes these two hats:
Peripeteia (from the Hunter to the Hunted)
Floppy Hat
Peripeteia is the Greek expression (used especially in drama) for a reversal of fortunes. At home, my favourite form of relaxation is hunting, and I wore the faded khaki hat when I undertook my final hunt in Nigeria in November 1994, ‘got lost’ in the forest and surfaced in the neighbouring Republic of Benin – a fugitive from the dictatorship of Sanni Abacha. Later – on my exile circuit in African countries, Europe, the US etc – the hat was pressed into service as part of a prudent disguise as I continued to evade the dictator’s rather persistent agents – my head of hair being the most obvious giveaway.
Yoruba Cap
The black Yoruba cap was part of my formal attire – mostly retained in my hand - when I received the Nobel Prize in 1986. It surfaced again among the wardrobe which joined me later in exile, so I added it to the other head camouflage. (I still wear a headgear on occasion, despite the end of the dictatorship, but only to enjoy some anonymity).
While working on a project of the International Parliament of Writers, the setting up of a network of Cities of Asylum for persecuted writers, I received a complimentary ticket of a $1000 (!!!) ringside seat for a boxing match from a casino-hotelier-cum-bibliophile who was once an aspiring writer. He had spearheaded the creation of the first such city in the United States in – of all places! – Las Vegas! Again, I wore this very cap – to avoid easy recognition. After this novel and extravagant addition to its mixed fortunes, what else is left but to retire the cap, in grand style, from active service!
Wole Soyinka
Wole Soyinka donated the hats to the Nobel Prize Museum in 2000.
