Vol. 2, Issue 12, Part E (2016)

Abstract
Wole Soyinka has been acknowledged as one of the most powerful and talented writers of the twentieth century African writers. He is a member of the Yoruba people, one of the three major racial groups in Nigeria. His first play “The swamp dwellers” was published in 1957, presented at the Student Movement House in London where Soyinka himself took the part of the protagonist Igwezu. All of Soyinka’s plays evidence a social conscience, many of them deal with the problems of a society in transition, where the waning features of the traditional community and the merciless individualism of the new Nigeria may seem to be equally objectionable alternatives. Even in his light-hearted plays like “The trials of brother Jero” and “The lion and the jewel” there is an evidence of social consciousness. An insistent critic of his society, Soyinka especially includes one or more characters to fulfil this same function: the most given example against war theme is expressed in “A Dance of the forests”. The focus of this paper is to highlight how Soyinka shows his intent protest against war in this play. The play was produced on Nigerian Independence Day, by the ‘1960 Masks’ Drama Company founded by Soyinka himself soon after his return home from England. It won the Encounter Independence Day Award.