Set in Colonial Nigeria in the late 1940’s and based on the true story of Elesin Oba, the King’s horseman, is tasked with carrying out a sacred ritual upon the death of The Alaafin of Oyo, The King, however Elesin Oba is overtaken by the allure of earthly desires and temptation which distract him from his purpose and the mission bestowed him. By falling into clutches of those desires he unleashes a chain of events which will forever tarnish his legacy and disrupts the path made clear by his duty.
Wole Soyinka’s Death and The King’s Horseman is part of global theatre history and so for Utopia Theatre and Sheffield Theatres to bring it to life at The Crucible is momentous. Its impact on the world stage as an example of African theatrical arts is not only significant but also compelling.
For it brings forth the beauty of traditional Yoruba performance and spirituality in the midst of the ugliness of colonialism and its need to erase, silence and undermine; something that many children of the former colonised communities still experience today in the land of the former coloniser. We are presented with the truth of what was and given space to imagine the possibilities of what could be and that in and of itself is a fundamental part of storytelling through theatre, something that this does so well.
The performances of the leads were undeniably impressive; Kehinde Bankole (Iyaloja) and Wale Ojo (Elesin Oba) were as to be expected – exceptional. Their very presence on the stage was captivating and all consuming. The entire cast was a joy to behold, if I could list everyone’s names here I would particularly the ensemble whose singing was spectacular. To hear songs in Yoruba performed with such vigour and passion was moving and spiritually nourishing.
David Partridge and Laura Pypers as the quintessentially English Pilkings brought the essence of that colonial time to life so well. There was a standout star who caught me by surprise, Michael Ahomka-Lindsay (Olunde) whose performance commanded one’s attention in a way that cannot be overstated – a star with a bright future.
Through Mojisola Kareem‘s direction and vision this production of Death and The King’s Horseman is a deeply moving one tackling themes of death, heritage, legacy and tradition. It is so important that stories like this continue to be revisited and reimagined not only for wider audiences but for myself (and I am sure others like me) born on the land of those who once colonised my people, split between the complexities of identity, duty and belonging.
Perhaps Olunde serves as a symbol of those like me, thriving in this land and yet never truly belonging and always holding onto the understanding that despite it all we are the keepers of our foremothers and forefathers’ legacies.
A truly important and powerful production.
Need to know: Death and the King’s Horseman plays at Sheffield Theatres until 8 Feb 2025
