A brilliant work that truly captured the African socio-cultural ethos. But I haven't seen the play :)

One of my favourite plays in the good old days; high school. It was on the schools syllabus, so I was kinda forced to read it, but I don't regret it because it was a good read.

The best written African drama. It's Been long I read it, all I can remember is that LAKUNLE was outstanding in the play. And he will make you laugh out loud lol.

I can't even open the story

I
Just don't get it
This was funny, admittedly but obtuse at points and somewhat cruel

Very boring book. I don't like it.

One of my all time favourite authors and a little jewel of an African play. I am waiting for the day it is produced by Sri Lankan theatre artists.

First published in 1963, the Lion and the Jewel by Wole Soyinka, is a play, with comedy plot.  It centers on three main characters. Baroka, the “Bale” (village chief) of Ilujinle, is the “Lion” in the play.  He is a sly, sixty-two years old man, who feigns impotence to seduce Sidi, the village belle.  Sidi, a conceited young girl, is the “jewel” in the play. She is courted by Lakunle, a teacher, who strongly believes in western culture and ideas.
 
To seduce Sidi, Baroka flatters her, extols her beauty, and befuddles her with romantic words, profuse riddles and proverbs.
 
The victory of Baroka over Lakunle who should have married Sidi, but fails to do so because he does not want to pay the bride price, can be regarded as the triumph of Yoruba traditional values over western influence and ideas. Some people can also regard it as the victory of old age experience over youth.
 
Here are my two favorite quotes from the book:
 
Yesterday’s wine alone is strong and blooded, child
And though the Christian’s holy book denies
The truth is this, old wine thrives best
Within a new bottle.  The coarseness
Is mellowed down, and the rugged wine
Acquires a full and rounded body
 
 
Those who know little of Baroka think
His life one pleasure-loving course.
But the monkey sweat, my child,
The monkey sweats,
It is only the hair upon his back
Which still deceives the world
 

I've been reading more African and African-American literature through my uni courses this semester, and I have really enjoyed it, but I'm not quite sure what to make of this play. It's funny and witty, but I just don't know if I love what it implies about women in the end.

Spoilers ahead: I didn't think either man was a good choice for Sidi, but choosing to marry the man that just assaulted her (which she was very obviously upset and crying about) just doesn't sit right with me.

i loved this play beyond words! i can't seem to come up with a fair review

Soyinka's The Lion and the Jewel is one humorous story with layers of complexity. It's interesting.

Click on the link for my review on my blog

http://freduagyeman.blogspot.com/2010...


thanks

The book is a drama about Africa.It concerned about a teacher named Lakunle who wants to change the way of the locals but don't know how to go about it.Finally, he loses his betrothed to Baroka,a traditional Chief.It is very interesting play...

Hmmm