Owen Congdon-Moore
Currents in Global Literature
Professor Nicholas Helms
October 2, 2021
Essay 1
Death and The Kings Horsemen: A Tale of Colonial Cluelessness
Soyinka’s narrative within the play of Death and The Kings Horsemen is at all points a tragic look into colonial interference of tribal culture and social health. Elesins role as sacrifice was obviously tragic, and to outside perspectives a “barbaric” tradition that ends a human life, but from the Yoruban culture it’s an extension of one’s life that is seeded with nature itself. These complex meanings are ultimately misunderstood and overlooked by the occupying British, who’s materialistic goals and harsh treatment of native Africans devalued and suppressed generations of tradition and everyday life. This overarching theme of insensitivity is represented by the character Simon Pilkings, who’s attitude and lack of understanding threw Elesin and his community into a disastrous unwinding that nearly destroyed their whole belief system. Pilkings is arguably the representation of imperialism as a whole and reflects on a smaller scale what happened on a global one. Cultural insensitivity and detachment are displayed prominently through the actions and preconceived ideas of the officer and his wife, who serve as the embodiment of colonialism and its effects on native cultures.
When the reader is introduced to Pilkings and his wife for the first time, a number of observations can be made. The most prominent example of their lack of understanding is when Amusa tells them about the clothes they’re wearing to the ball that night. Amusa exclaims “ I beg you sir, what you think you do with that dress it belongs to a dead cult, not for a human being,”, which is met with confusion from officer Pilkings, which then responds “ well, I’ve got it on. And what’s more Jane and I have bet on it we’re taking first prize at the ball”. This opening to chapter two is significant because it solidifies Pilkings as a someone who has no idea about the world that’s around him, and that despite the intense cultural meaning behind what he and his wife are wearing, he sees it as a costume/role for a party. This is an important scene for readers, as it shows the disconnect between the British and native Africans within the area and foreshadows what’s to come. This is where the connection to imperialism can be seen in regard to a greater overall message. Soyinka’s work is often a reflection of the greater issue of imperialism and its effects on native African cultures, and that’s how charcters such as the Pilkings and Elesin can be symbols of both colonial occupation and the destruction it causes.
Deeper into the play, when Elesin’s son returns from living amongst the British for four years, we see how colonialism can affect the relationships of families with Yoruban culture. As Olounde believes his father is dead at that time, officer Pilkings drags his father to the front of the house, causing a shift in how Olounde sees his father within the father son dynamic. This drives Olounde to separate himself from his father as he says “ I have no father, eater of leftovers”. This powerful statement shows the amount of damage that Pilkings views on family values and tradition have done to not only Olounde and Elesin, but they’re entire community. The play uses this moment to give an example of how imperialism separated and disrupted things on a personal level, and how the lack of understanding on a part of the British is ultimately the cause. Olounde’s transformation into another culture mirrors closely with that as described in Equiano, “I could not silently suffer government to be thus cheated, and my countrymen plundered and oppressed.”. it is symbolizing the separation of his bicultural upbringing and immersing himself within imperialism. Olounde coming back is ultimately showing what happens when someone from a different culture is brought into colonialism and what happens when they come back and try to embrace the traditions that they have been forced to subdue and hide to function in their Christian dominated world.
Nearing the end of the book, and elisions death, Officer Pilkings converses with Elesin himself about his decision to incarcerate him within the jail. Even while trying to reason with Elesons and show a side of humanity that these narratives tend to omit. Pilkings believes he’s saved Elesons life, and that it was a noble thing to do, but he fails to realize that what he’s done is disastrous to Elesons reputation and communal standing. He goes so far as to say that “you did not save my life District Officer, you destroyed it”, which is what Pilkings did despite his good intentions. Highlighting and bringing up the important question of if it’s okay to disregard culture in order to save someone. Due to his disregard of who the Yoruban people are, he becomes so detached that he can’t even effectively help someone when his has the chance to shed the imperialistic tendencies he has. This event is evidence that the imperial occupation caused irreversible damage to people’s lives and communities. This play being based on a true story is unique as it brings to life a real problem but with the theatrical twist to send the message of imperial insensitivity. As an audience, or someone looking critically at the story, the method in which the characters speak and interact with each other brings an aspect of realness to that place.
Dialogue within this book serves as the primary means for how we can see the massive differences in beliefs and mainstream topics. Things like death and religion become lost between both societies as they clash, much like what happened within Death and The Kings Horsemen, showing that without fully understanding the Yorubans, the British occupation not only altered the nations ability to function but caused a ripple effect that with intrinsically spread the long-term effects of occupation and subversion within the country. Within the narrative it can be seen from subtle things such as dress to the importance of death and self-sacrifice within the societal roles of leaders and influential figures in the community. Dialogue provides a personal connection to how characters feel about the situation that they’re in when facing such cultural shifts. This is seen in the final pages of the story, when Iyaloja confronts Pilkings about his choice to hold Elesin till the end of the night, which in effect cancels the ceremony of suicide. Iyaloja tells Pilkings “it is what you brough to be, you who play with stranger’s lives, who even usurp the vestments of our dead.”. This moment is where Pilkings is forced to see how what he did affected those around him, and that he his blind decision making when trying to use English values in a place that differs so wildly ended in a complete disaster. Similarly this also shows how powerful beliefs can be, despite being threatened with losing their identity the ritual was undertaken anyway, even within the British jail cells.
Sprockets and Springes 