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Title: The lion and the jewel : Wole Soyinka by Edward Blishen ISBN: 0-435-28103-8 Publisher: Heinemann Educational for the British Broadcasting Corporation and the British Council on behalf of the British Ministry of Overseas Development Pub. Date: 1975 Format: Unknown Binding

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Average Customer Rating: 4 (1 review)

Rating: 4
Summary: The Conflicts in The Lion and the Jewel
Comment: Wole Soyinka combines wit, humour and sarcasm to bring to the reader the clash between westernization and the tradition, age and youth, male and female elements in the village of Ilujinle. Lakunle represents the west with his attempts to copy western values. Because Lakunle only copied the superficials of the West, such as cocktails, ball room dancing and the likes, he was seen by many of the villagers as totally insane. Baroka, the Lion, on the other hand, represents the tradtional institution. This institution that Baroka represents is under threat from encroaching western ideas. The tradition is also preserved in the person of Sidi, the Jewel, who despite the impacts of the magazine and the teacher Lakunle on her comes out triumphant as culture is preserved in her.
Another prominent element in this enchanting and suspenseful play is the tension between the masculine and feminine aspects in this society. Here also, Baraoka represents the patriachal dominance that characteriszes this society. He has access to all the women and changes them for new ones when he likes. Sidi, challenges Baroka's position especially when the magazine opens her eyes to what she is and what she can be.

The clash between age and youth is typified in the challenge posed first by the young teacher, Lakunle, to the established traditional societal values and then by Sidi, who challenges the age-old traditional institution that Baroka epitomises.

In the end, the traditon of the people is preserved thanks to the wit and the sense of forsight of the clever Lion, Baroka. First, by feigning impotence, he draws Sidi close to him, who comes with the intention of lampooning him, and then by using west's own tools, i.e. by promising Sidi a place on the village's stamp, he brings her to inadvertently succumb to his ploy.

Other characters like Sadiku are delight to encounter. She represents that reality in every society. She is delighted at the news of her husband's predicament and went to share it with Sidi.

This play no doubt brings to the fore Soyinka's genius in writing satirical pieces. With each page, he brings you closer to the experience of the people of Ilujinle, indeed of the whole Yoruba Nigerian community, their encounter with modernisation and their struggle to preserve their cultural identity.