This document summarizes Wole Soyinka's play "The Swamp Dwellers", which explores the conflict between tradition and modernity in post-colonial Africa. The play is set in Nigeria in the 1950s and deals with the confrontation between traditional village life and the modern values of the growing cities. It depicts the characters of Alu and Makuri as representing tradition and culture of the village, while Desala and Awuchike symbolize the modernity and materialism of city life. Through these characters and their interactions, Soyinka examines the tensions between maintaining traditional customs and embracing new modern ways of thinking.

1. Welcome
❖ Name: Virani Dhara R.
❖ Sem: 4 M. A. English
❖ Roll no:04
❖ Subject: The African Literature
❖ Email id: dharavirani601@gmail.com
❖ Submitted to: smt Gardi English Dept. MKBU
❖ Year: 2019-2021
❖ Topic: Tradition v/s Modernity in The Swamp Dwellers.

2. ● Wole Soyinka’s play “The Swamp
Dweller” Was written in 1957.
● Wole Soyinka was born in 1934.
● Nigerian writer and the first person
in Africa awarded the 1968 Nobel
Prize in Literature.
● The play deals with a confrontation
between progress and tradition in
Africa, especially southern Nigeria.
Introduction

3. The Swamp Dwellers

5. Tradition
Cultural, social, conventional
Nonwestern attitude and culture
Village- Join family, caste.
Identity, respect
A framework of nationhood

6. Modernity
A change in society
Encompasses various elements of the so-called
South African tradition or any tradition.
Modern thinking
Development, Materialistic thinking
The city life

7. Tradition v/s Modernity in the play
● In this play “The Swamp Dwellers” the concept of post-
colonial is reflect by seeing the conflict between
Tradition and modernity.
● Tradition- a framework of nationhood.
● The concept of development in modernity.
● Both are treated as polar opposite, kingship system v/s
money relationship.
● Tradition is taught by our society and people around us.
● Modernity: a person’s thoughts about the world.

8. Question ?
● Why people are against modernization?
● Modernization has brought materialistic values to
the front seat and ethical and moral values have
been relegated to the back seat... . ?
● Is modernity or modernisation affect the tradition?

9. The Swamp Dwellers
● In “The Swamp Dwellers” good countryside and evil city.
● The idea is represented in the characters of the two
women characters ‘Desala’,, unfaithful wife and Alu the
mother.
● Here in this play, Alu, Makuri represented tradition, and
Desala, Awuchike, Kadiye are represented modernity,
but Igwezu was individual, he was in both side.

10. Tradition
Alu & Makuri
The Village
Join family
Modernity
Desala & Awuchike
The City
New clear family

11. ● Makuri’s words:
“ Makuri: Dead men don't go to the city.
They go to hell.”
He says so because he wants to do the Alu’s anxiety over
Awuchike’s disappearance. Makuri defends his son’s
position by saying:
“ Makuri: … Awuchike got sick of his place and went
into the city.”

12. Makuri begins to discuss the city:
“ It ruins them. The city ruins them. What do you
seek there except money?
Alu responds,
“It was the swamp… he went the same way as my
son”
The point is clear, even outside of Yuruba belief- the city is
a swamp, a place of moral degradation, that “kills” Who go
there.

13. Conclusion
● Through this discussion we can said that, the conflict
between tradition and modernity is reflected in this play
● Human life presents constant problems and
contradiction.
● Soyinka present us the picture of modern Africa where
the wind of change starting blowing.

14. Thank you… .

15. References