Overview
Synopsis
In the ancient Yoruba city of Oyo, Nigeria, the King has died. Elesin Oba, the king’s horseman, must follow his King in death to help him reach the afterlife. It is a great honor, and a ritual steeped in faith and tradition. When news of the impending suicide reaches Simon Pilkings -- the British District Officer, who is ignorant of native culture -- he decides Elesin must be stopped. Based on historical events, Wole Soyinka’s powerful play Death and the King’s Horseman depicts one fateful night, during which Elesin, his son, and Pilkings become entangled in a struggle of honor, faith, tradition, and the very soul of a community.
Show Information
- Book
- Wole Soyinka
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 1
- First Produced
- 1976
- Genres
- Drama, Historical/Biographical
- Settings
- Period, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- early 1940s, Oyo, Nigeria
- Cast Size
- medium
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Diverse Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Death and the King’s Horseman is based on historical events in Oyo, Nigeria in 1946. Playwright Wole Soyinka made few changes in his script -- minor changes in detail, sequence, and characterization, as well as setting the incident during the height of World War II -- but let the events remain as they occurred: a sacred tradition is halted by ignorant outsider, with disastrous consequences. The same event also inspired the Yoruban play Oba Wà jà by Duro Ladipo.
In his introductory note to
to read the context for Death and the King's Horseman and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
(Editor’s note: Death and the King’s Horseman is written in five scenes, meant to be performed without intermission.)
I
Elesin Oba, accompanied by the Praise Singer, makes his way through the marketplace as the stalls begin to close down for the evening. Elesin is a highly respected and admired horseman to the King. He is a energetic and magnetic man, and very popular with the woman of the marketplace. This evening’s shall be his last visit — the King has died, and in accordance
to read the plot for Death and the King's Horseman and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken, Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken, Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Spoken |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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