Clash of Cultures

The strong British presence and control in Nigeria presented a cultural clash between two vastly different societies with different values and beliefs.  With the power and popularity of Britain, people like the Pilkings had a difficult time understanding and respecting the culture and traditions of the Oyo residents.  The Pilkings saw their culture as superior since Britain was one of the top powers in the world at the time.  When faced with confrontation about the Oyo traditions after the King died.  This created a bit of a cultural clash between the natives of the Nigerian village and the British intruders.

After the King died, Pilking and his wife, Jane, are confused as to the rumors behind the King's horsemen, Elesin.  In hearing that Elesin was going to commit suicide that night, the Pilkings were shocked.  The found out that it was tradition for the highest ranking and secondhand man to the King was to die the night before the King's funeral in order to follow him in the afterlife.  The Pilkings did not understand why or how this was a tradition and saw it as somewhat barbaric or primitive. To the Yoruban people this was a major part of their culture and they deeply valued the tradition that encompasses their identity as a village.  As the British, like the Pilkings, failed to comprehend this importance, this caused some rift of cultures that will continue to inflate throughout the play.