The Lion and the Jewel by Wole Soyinka

Description

The Lion and the Jewel

“The Lion and the Jewel” is a three-act play written by Nigerian playwright Wole Soyinka. The play fuses modern and traditional elements of storytelling, including Yoruban song and dance, to convey a message both comical and serious. The play’s characters are often touted as over-the-top in their behavior, lending a comical aspect to the dialogue and the characters’ individual actions. The message conveyed despite the comedic effects, however, focuses on the role of modern and traditional ways of viewing the world, and how these views may or may not be served better by working together for the common goal of human progress.