Death and the King’s Horseman by Wole Soyinka
Death and the King’s Horseman is a 1975 play by Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, based on a true incident in colonial Nigeria. When a king dies, tradition demands his horseman commit ritual suicide to guide the king’s spirit. But when a British colonial officer interferes to prevent the suicide, it triggers a tragedy that climaxes when the horseman’s Western-educated son takes his own life in place of his father, who has failed his duty.
The play explores cultural clash, duty, and cosmic balance in Yoruba tradition, while challenging audiences to look beyond simple colonial conflict.
Death and the King's Horseman: Methuen Student Edition Jero Plays Collected Plays 2
