Aesthetics of Yoruba Culture in Soyinka’s Death and the King’s Horseman

ABSTRACT Culture and religion are two main fibres that sustain the continued existence of a community. However, issues of cultural intersection and the negative effects of cultural shock as a result of colonialism result into diverse forms of confusion in African societies. Considering the relevance of culture, this study investigates the aesthetics of Yoruba culture in Death and the King’s Horseman by Soyinka. An identification and illumination of the significance of the Yoruba culture in the present society situation serves as a basis for restoring, re-establishing and propagating the Yoruba culture as a panacea for societal cleansing. This study is anchored on post-colonial theoretical framework which explains the unpleasant disruption of the rich values inherent in the Yoruba culture. The study concludes that there is need to resuscitate the best and the progressive aspect of the culture of the Yoruba people in order to redeem the vanishing value systems in an era of globalization.