Death and the King's Horsemen Study Questions & Topics for Discussion

Death and the King's Horsemen Topics for Further Study

Research the involvement of African nations in World War II. Where on the African continent were battles fought? Which nations were involved in the fighting? Does it seem reasonable that the characters in Death and the King's Horseman would be largely oblivious to the war? How accurate and appropriate is the term "world war"?

The British used to have a proud saying: "The sun never sets on the British Empire." Using research and a map of the world, identify the parts of the world that were under British rule in the early 1940s, when Death and the King's Horseman takes place. Then identify the parts of the world under British rule in 1975, when the play was written. Where does the British Empire reach today?

Soyinka was raised as a Christian, but his parents were also Yoruba. What evidence of this rich combination of influences is found in...
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