Lion and The Jewel

Wole Soyinka

Presented by
Hira Ahad
Saad Khan
Context
Context

• Published in 1963
• First performed in 1959
• Soyinka is a Nigerian
playwright\known to criticize
the corruption of African
Culture
• The play is set in African village
Yoruba
• Plot is divided into:
1. Morning
2. Noon
3. Night
Major Characters

• (the jewel), most • (lion), bale of

beautiful girl in the the Village
village.

Sidi Baroka

Lacunle Sadiku

• teacher of the village. • Baroka’s

head-wife
Both the male characters represent
two world views
Lacunle

1. Stands as a symbol for

eurocentrism
2. He also represents the
shallowness of westernization
3. Lacunle's odd westerns dress is
symbolic of the idea that Lacunle
is misfit for the western culture.
No matter how hard he tries to
adopt it he will always be an
outsider.
4. He is at ideological war with
Baroka.
5. He also adheres the vulgarity of
the western culture.
Baroka

1. He is a symbol for Afrocentric views.

2. He fends off modernity to stay in
power.
3. He also represents the Yoruba
culture.
 WOMEN ARE DOUBLY OPPRESSED
• Sidi is objectified by both Lacunle and Baroka
• She represents traditions
• Women are often believed to have smaller brains as Lacunle says:
“For, as a women, you have a smaller brain. Than mine”
• Marriage revolves around the idea of child bearing.
 Symbols
• Traditional Symbols
1. Bride price
2. Drum and wrestling
3. Polygamy
4. Hiring praise singers
• Modern Symbols
1. The magazine which gives
Sidi Power.