Study Guide: The Lion and the Jewel by Wole Soyinka

Study Guide: The Lion and the Jewel by Wole Soyinka is a detailed analysis of one of Wole Soyinka's earlier plays, The Lion and the Jewel. The comic play borders around the struggle between a mock of Western “civilization” and “medieval” African culture, a conflict between beauty and wit, etcetera. The play has, as its principal characters, Sidi, Lakunle, Baroka and Sadiku. Baroka and Sidi are the titular characters of this play. Baroka is the lion while Sidi is the jewel.

The Lion and the Jewel pits the African culture against the Western civilization. Lakunle, the primary school teacher and a been-to-the-city, is a beacon of the Western civilisation and its liberties, the caricature of a modern educated man. Baroka is a paragon of African values, wisdom, and knowledge. Thus, the thematic focus of the play is the clash between tradition and modernity.

This study guide by Literature Padi does a detailed analysis of the play, along the lines of plot summary, setting, dramatic techniques, title relevance, figurative expressions, themes, characterisation, and questions and answers. We hope you find this 38-page study guide a worthy read.

Ridwan Adédèjì,

Head of Content,

Literature Padi.