Widely considered to by Soyinka''s greatest work, this play goes to the heart of the disruption of pre-colonial reality and reveals the way in which - when cultures clash, the world is turned upside-down. The notes to this edition include an interview with the playwright, a discussion of themes and characters, a dossier of photographs and notes on the production history, compiled by Alby James
Based on real events that took place in Oyo, the ancient Yoruba city of Nigeria, in 1946, Nobel Prize-winner Wole Soyinka's play tells how Simon Pilkings, a well-meaning District Officer, intervenes to prevent the ritual suicide of the Yoruba chief, Elesin. This Student Edition includes a full introduction, commentary and questions for study.
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Summary
Widely considered to by Soyinka''s greatest work, this play goes to the heart of the disruption of pre-colonial reality and reveals the way in which - when cultures clash, the world is turned upside-down. The notes to this edition include an interview with the playwright, a discussion of themes and characters, a dossier of photographs and notes on the production history, compiled by Alby James
Based on real events that took place in Oyo, the ancient Yoruba city of Nigeria, in 1946, Nobel Prize-winner Wole Soyinka's play tells how Simon Pilkings, a well-meaning District Officer, intervenes to prevent the ritual suicide of the Yoruba chief, Elesin. This Student Edition includes a full introduction, commentary and questions for study.
Description
"The action of the play is as inevitable and eloquent as in Antigone: a clash of values and cultures so fundamental that tragedy issues: a tragedy for each individual, each tribe." - Daily Telegraph
"This play, by the winner of a Nobel Prize for Literature, asks: 'On the authority of what gods' the white aliens rupture the world. It puts exciting political theatre back on the agenda ... a masterpiece of 20th century drama." - The Guardian
Elesin Oba, the King's Horseman, has a single destiny. When the King dies, he must commit ritual suicide and lead his King's favourite horse and dog through the passage to the world of the ancestors. A British Colonial Officer, Pilkings, intervenes.
This Student Edition includes a full introduction, commentary and questions for study by Jane Plastow as well as an interview with Wole Soyinka.
Critic Reviews
“This play, by the winner of a Nobel Prize for Literature, asks: 'On the authority of what gods' the white aliens rupture the world. It puts exciting political theatre back on the agenda. . . a masterpiece of 20th century drama”
. The Guardian
A transfixing work of modern world drama. The Independent
Clearly a masterpiece ... Soyinka achieves the full impact of Greek tragedy. Irving Wardle, Independent on Sunday
The action of the play is as inevitable and eloquent as in Antigone: a clash of values and cultures so fundamental that tragedy issues: a tragedy for each individual, each tribe. Michael Schmidt, Daily Telegraph
About the Author
Wole Soyinka - playwright, novelist, poet and polemical essayist - was born in Nigeria in 1934. Educated there and at Leeds University, UK, he worked in the British theatre before returning to West Africa in 1960. In 1986 he became the first African writer to win the Nobel Prize for Literature.
'This play, by the winner of a Nobel Prize for Literature, asks: ''On the authority of what gods'' the white aliens rupture the world. ''It puts exciting political theatre back on the agenda. . . a masterpiece of 20th century drama'' Guardian. Elesin Oba, the King''s Horseman, has a single destiny. When the King dies, he must commit ritual suicide and lead his King''s favourite horse and dog through the passage to the world of the ancestors. A British Colonial Officer, Pilkings,intervenes to prevent the death and arrrests Elesin.
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