Wole Soyinka And Yoruba Oral Tradition in Death And The King’s Horseman

Description

Wole Soyinka’s “Death and the King’s Horseman” intricately weaves Yoruba oral traditions into its narrative, reflecting the rich cultural and spiritual heritage of the Yoruba people. The play is set in colonial Nigeria and centers around the conflict between traditional Yoruba customs and British colonial rule. At its heart, it deals with the ritual suicide of the king’s horseman, Elesin, which is a crucial aspect of Yoruba cosmology and religious practice.