The Lion and the Jewel

Lakunle is the village schoolmaster. At twenty-three, he considers himself educated and not only dresses like his Western counterparts but speaks and carries himself like a Westerner. He wants to make the village of Ilujinle as progressive and modern as Lagos. Lakunle despises the old customs, like women doing hard chores (he takes Sidi’s water pail off her head), wearing traditional clothing (he derides Sidi for her revealing attire), and demanding a bride-price (he wants to marry Sidi but refuses to buy her as one would buy cattle). Lakunle is also at odds with the Bale, the village chieftain, called Baroka. Lakunle knows that Baroka does not want to modernize because it threatens his very purpose in life. Lakunle is a comical character, always speaking in flowery language and repeating verbose language he has picked up in his studies. Though he implores Sidi not to work like a traditional woman, Lakunle still harbors the notion that women are the weaker sex.

Baroka is the Bale (the chieftain) of the village, and is the “lion” referred to in the play’s title. He is sixty-two. Baroka clings to tradition as much as possible. He does not want Ilujinle to modernize, as he believes that if it does, he will have no place left in society. To him, modernization means people that will no longer look to him for survival and knowledge. He actively schemes against outside advances, an example of which takes place when he dissuades railroad men from building rails through the village, and pays them off with bribes. Baroka has a harem of wives and is known as a seducer of women. When he views Sidi’s pictures in the magazine spread, Baroka decides to pursue her as his next wife. He develops a scheme to pretend he is impotent, the news of which reaches Sidi. Sidi goes to tease him, and is thus snared in his trap. He offers to make a stamp of her to showcase her beauty, thus playing to her vanity. Finally, he makes love to her. Sidi decides to marry Baroka at the end of the play, realizing that, as one of his epithets indicates, he is indeed a lion of a lover.

Sadiku is Baroka’s eldest wife. She initially brings the message to Sidi that Baroka wishes to take her as a wife. Sadiku tries to convince Sidi that her privilege as the Bale’s last wife will ensure her prosperity for the rest of her life. Sadiku is tricked by Baroka later, when he lies and tells her that he is impotent. Though Sadiku swears to tell no one, she is rejoiced by this news and tells everyone, including Sidi. Sadiku is elated at the Bale’s impotence because she sees it as a victory for all women. Sadiku realizes her mistake when Sidi returns and admits she was conned. With nothing else to do, Sadiku blesses Sidi’s marriage to Baroka.