Death and the King's Horseman

Today is the 74th birthday of the Nigerian playwright Akinwande Oluwole "Wole" Sonyinka, the first African to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature (in 1986).

“Death and the King's Horseman” is considered by many to be his greatest play. It is based on a real incident that occured during Britain's colonial rule of Nigeria. The authors of the Wikipedia article explain:

According to a Yoruba [religious] tradition, the death of the Chief must be followed by the ritual suicide of the Chief's Horseman as the Horseman's spirit is essential to helping the Chief's spirit ascend to heaven. Otherwise the Chief's spirit will wander the earth and bring harm to the Yoruba people. The first half of the play documents the process of this ritual, with the potent, life-loving figure Elesin living out his final day in celebration before the final process begins. At the last minute the local British colonial ruler, Mr Pilkings intervenes, the suicide being viewed as barbaric and illegal by the British authorities...

On page 42 of this play Wole Soyinka wrote (emphasis added):

PRAISE-SINGER:	Only what has been spoken. Only what concerns The dying wish of the father of all
ELESIN:	It is buried like seed-yam in my mind This is the season of quick rains, the harvest Is this moment due for gathering.
PRAISE-SINGER:	If you cannot come, I said, swear You'll tell my favourite horse. I shall Ride on through the gates alone.
ELESIN:	Elesin's message will be read Only when his loyal heart no longer beats.
PRAISE-SINGER:	If you cannot come Elesin, tell my dog. I cannot stay at the keeper too long At the gate.
ELESIN:	A dog does not outrun the hand That feeds it meat. A horse that throws its rider Slows down to a stop. Elesin Alafin Trusts no beasts with messages between A king and his companion.
PRAISE-SINGER:	If you get lost my dog will track The hidden path to me.
ELESIN:	The seven-way crossroads confuses Only the stranger. The Horseman of the King Was born in the recess of the house.
PRAISE-SINGER:	I know the wickedness of men. If there is Weight on the loose end of your sash, such weight As no mere man can shift; if your sash is earthed By evil minds who mean to part us at the last...
ELESIN:	My sash is of the deep purple alari; It is no tethering-rope. The elephant Trails no tethering-rope; that king Is not yet crowned who will peg an elephant — Not even you my friend and King.
PRAISE-SINGER:	And yet this fear will not depart me

More information about “Death and the King's Horseman” (and the book itself) is available from:

• Powell's Books
• Amazon.com
• Barnes & Noble

(W. W. Norton & Company, April 2002. Paperback, 77 pages. ISBN: 0393322998; EAN: 9780393322996.)