THE UNEXPECTED IN WOLE SOYINKA'S ECLECTIC PLAYS

 

Wole Soyinka needs no introduction as a world-class African and global playwright, as the very first African to be honoured with the Nobel prize for literature.

Pundits often praise the superb imagination and dazzling language of the playwright, but here we are briefly concerned with the unexpected developments in his plays. Two examples will suffice.

In Soyinka's celebrated play, Kongi's Harvest, the tyrant (Kongi)  is often contrasted with the traditional African king. But it is clear that Kongi would ride roughshod over everybody as the leader. He condemns many people to death, as the drama unfolds.

Then near the end, we are horrified as Kongi finds himself presented with the head of a hanged man! It is the head of the father of Segi, a notable woman, which stealthily finds its way in a salver to the strongman Kongi himself! And people take to their heels!!

In another of Soyinka's excellent plays (The Lion and the Jewel) the traditional leader Baroka (the lion) is enamoured with the new very young village belle, Sidi, and sets about seducing her.

Then pathos creeps in as we learn that Baroka has now become impotent, and the women celebrate the downfall of the great man. Even young Sidi visits him to taunt him - with disastrous results! The Lion has been pretending to be impotent! He gets Sidi into his bed and dis-virgins her!

Not that Sidi complains much at this juncture, as she somewhat happily declaims:

"Do you see what strength he has given me?

That was not bad For a man of 60

It was the secret of God's own draught

A deed for drums and ballads..."

Wole Soyinka - Africa's number 1 dramatist. Read some of his multiple works and marvel!

- O. Bolaji