Death and The King’s Horseman

Stage Play BAP Productions

A major stage production of the classic Nigerian dramatic work.

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Legacy & Impact

The Bigger Story

Death and The King’s Horseman as part of BAP Productions' wider cultural legacy.

Prestigious staging of Wole Soyinka's masterpiece with world-class production values.

Reintroduced Africa's literary canon to contemporary audiences through immersive modern staging.

Demonstrated BAP's ability to bridge high art, literature and commercial theatre.

Synopsis

The story behind Death and The King’s Horseman.

Based on a real-life tragic event, the play is set in Oyo during World War II, when Nigeria was still a British colony. The king has died, and as his horseman commences the traditional ritual that will ensure the smooth transition of the dead king to the world beyond, the British colonial officer intervenes. In consequence, the harmonious coexistence between the living, the dead and the unborn is placed under severe threat.

Will the turn of events cause a disruption of the cosmic order of the universe? Will justice be served?

The play had earlier been staged to wide acclaim in July at the University of Lagos to mark the 83rd birthday anniversary celebration of the author, Soyinka, the 1986 Nobel laureate for Literature.

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