Death and the Kings Horseman – Digital Theatre
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Written by Nobel Prize winner Wole Soyinka and inspired by a true story, this stunning play celebrates a community striving to uphold its culture in the face of colonial power.
In British-occupied Nigeria, a Yoruba king, the Alafin, has died. According to Yoruba tradition, the death of the king must be followed by the ritual suicide of the king’s horseman as well as the king’s dog and horse, because the horseman’s spirit is essential to helping the King’s spirit ascend to the afterlife. Otherwise, the king’s spirit will wander the earth and bring harm to his people. But, inDeath and the King’s Horseman, the interference of an English administrator destroys the sacred ritual, resulting in unforeseen tragedy..
Wole Soyinka is a Nigerian playwright, novelist, poet, and essayist in the English language. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986. Soyinka wrote of this play, ‘The play should not be considered as “clash of cultures.” Rather, the play demonstrates the need for interaction between African and European cultures.’
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