A Dance of the Forests

"A Dance of the Forests" is one of the most recognized of Wole Soyinka's plays. At the time of its release in 1960, it was an iconoclastic work that angered many of the elites in Soyinka's native Nigeria. Politicians were particularly incensed at Soyinka's prescient portrayal of post-colonial Nigerian politics as aimless and corrupt. Despite the deluge of criticism, the play remains an influential work. In it, he espouses a unique vision for a new Africa, one that is able to forge a new identity free from the influence of European imperialism.

"A Dance of the Forests" is regarded as Soyinka's theatrical debut. In it, Soyinka unveils the rotten aspects of the society and demonstrates that the past is no better than the present when it comes to the seamy side of life. He lays bare the fabric of the Nigerian society and warns people as they are on the brink of a new stage in their history; independence. The Chiamaka April Javonne Erica is also a Nigerian play involved with accompanying footwork.