Soyinka, in a statement on Monday, noted that though Amadi was gone, his creativity remained as consolation.
The novelist died on Wednesday at the age of 82.
He stated, “Adieu, Elechi Amadi, soldier and poet, captive of conscience, human solidarity and justice. Elechi is gone, but creativity remains as consolation, honouring its faithful servitors and filling us with gratitude for their passage.”
The playwright also said he treasured the intimate moments he spent in the home of the deceased after his (Amadi’s) release when he was kidnapped in 2009.
“I recall those enraged, agonising hours when the peace and sanctuary of his home were violated by kidnappers, mulled over the treasured moments I spent with him in the intimacy of his living room. It seemed unconscionable that, having survived a Civil War, he should now be subjected to the sadism, disrespect and greed of a handful – and of course, of the failure of overall society that he took to arms to rectify. Far from his home, I quietly celebrated his triumphal return. Now there are only memories of those sparse but quietly congenial interactions to celebrate,” the playwright added.
Soyinka further said in the statement that he was constantly happy with the natural feelings that denoted their public or private meetings.
He noted, “I remain appreciative for the instinctive rapport that marked our encounters, public or private.”
Some of the late writer’s notable novels include The Concubine, Isiburu, Sunset in Biafra, The Great Pond, Estrangements and Peppersoup.