This is the best book ever

I think though the book was written in English, its setting was purely african. on the other hand the titles seems to imitate Beauty and the Beast which is more european.
I can also say the lion goes with the jewel in the sense could be ruby a precious stone which signifies great strength. Irizi ya Simba, but also the jewel taking the place of the african woman could mean power given by the woman.In the african context having an influence on men. I am not sure how could a teacher actually take hold of a jewel in the race with such a noble as King infact! there could be no great challenge because of the kings capacity.
The novel is a hard on to understand but a general conclusion. The writer wanted to present a pure picture of a desired african woman for all who adored her elegance.

The beginning of the play started out as interesting, but by the end, I was left baffled and my first engagement with it wasn't that fulfilling.

The play is set in the village of Ilunjinle, of the Yoruba tribes of Africa, on the brink of modernisation and juxtaposes modernity and traditions through the pivotal male characters of a young, Westernised school teacher and the old village headman, both vying for the hand of the village belle, the 'Jewel' Sidi.

Due to the context, the play again is political, in its themes as well as the form, which I realised way after reading it. XD But essentially, it is a tussle between the two men, to question the necessity of the western concept of progress and modernity and the value of traditional ways of life. In the end, it was actually shocking for me to see the protagonist choose to marry the old, polygamous, village headman after what he did to her instead of the schoolmaster, who I admit, was a little comical. After much thought, I have realised the reason, but I still cannot say I was happy with it.

Soyinka is the first Nobel prize winner from Africa, and that makes him a huge deal, so I'm still interested in reading other works by him, but I'd advise you that if you are going to pick this author up, do not start with this work.

Read this in High School and loved it. My sentiments have not changed.

An interesting comedy play, the distinction between the tradition of the African man and the western culture. told in simple yet captivating language.

This was the first thing I've read by Soyinka. I found a lot of great wit, surprises, sudden reversals, and complexity to characters. I also found the cultural barrier in terms of the treatment of Sidi (as well as the two other female characters) really difficult to stomach, which is the reason for my low rating. I'm considering teaching this play to students--there is no doubt that there is so much here to explore and learn about. At the same time, I would need to look really carefully at how I handled gender in the text so that I could help students explore with an open mind.

A very nasty witty literature shit ❣

African Nobel Laureate in literature, Soyinka, wrote this book when he was still a very young man, and the work showcased what a literary genius he already was. The ingredients that would make the playwright one of the most acclaimed in the world is present here, as well as the dazzling, rich language that taps into African lores so well. There are themes of mortality in this play, and the cunning of the king; contrasted with the impudence, naivety allied to arrogance of the youth. Soyinka explores these, and others here as (western) modernity is encroaching on a rural setting which however still has massive echoes of the past. This is a brilliant work that one can read again and again

A brilliant piece of work. The ambiguous discourse (and ambiguous ending) really deconstruct the many homogenous images of the Other (whether Africa or not) that we have, exposing the diversity of thought, the complexity of the politics, and the non-glorification of both Western and indigenous faiths and practices.

It's a classic. By todays standards I would say it doesn't have a big twist or a mind-blowing style but I think it's probably been a great short story in its time.
Additionally, for me, it showed some cultural aspects of an old village lifestyle of a country I have't yet visited. The wrestling, the polygamy, the lifestyle of wives of a chief, the importance of sexual abilities and the teacher trained in western ways of life were all interesting details of a lifestyle I would never experience by myself so it was generally a nice read. I recommend it if you're searching to read something short and old and classic from an underrepresented cultural background.

This play elicited mixed reactions from me. Soyinka's language was wonderful in the play, through which he beautifully captured the cultural milieu of the Yorba community. The play thrives with metaphors, metaphors that are at the very heart of the play. The conflict between Tradition and Modernity was present throughout, and, in my opinion, it has been treated well. The women characters- Sidi, Sadiku and the other wives of Baroka do not make an impact; they are always deep in the shadows of the other powerful men. Being a ribald comedy, the women are often at the receiving end of taunts. The play deals with many themes, and makes brilliant use of music and chants, infusing lyricism into dialogues that occasionally weigh the reader down due to their length.
Overall, The Lion and the Jewel was an insightful commentary on the Yorba culture. While it strikes the right cords, it doesn't really impress with the force that one would expect.

I read this for class, and I'm really not sure what to make of it; maybe discussing it in class will help me come to a stronger opinion of it. The story was very interesting and lighthearted, but the ending was a bit depressing. So it's for the ending, and not the writing or overall story, that I'm giving it four stars. I may come and add to my review after we discuss it in class, if it helps me to understand more about the story.