The document provides an analysis of the play "The Swamp Dwellers" by Wole Soyinka. It explores the main conflict between tradition and modernity in the Nigerian society portrayed in the play. Two female characters represent these opposing forces - Alu adheres to tradition while Desala is attracted to modern life. The play shows how modernity impacts relationships and leads to the disintegration of communities.

1. I.
● Conflict between Tradition and
Modernity in “The Swamp Dwellers” ●
Prepared By : Vidhya Pandya
Sem : 4
Paper No : 15 The African Literature
Email id :- vidhupandya10497@gmail.com
S.B Gardi Department of English, [MKBU]

2. ● The Swamp Dwellers ●
● “The Swamp Dwellers” is a play written by
Wole Soyinka Who is the writer from Nigeria.
● The Swamp Dwellers was published in
1958.
● In this play, “The Swamp Dwellers” the
main conflict is between the old and the new
way of life in the Nigerian society.

3. ● Conflict between Tradition and Modernity ●
● In the African society this conflict between Tradition
and Modernity is a deep one.
● The African society is communal whereas the Western
society is individualistic.
● Africa emerging from the cocoon of colonialism, found
itself in the grip of certain western ideas.
● The ideas were progressive but the coalition
of the two strands of culture became a painful experience.
● This led to a distinction between the modern and the
traditional.

4. ● Portray Tradition in “The Swamp Dwellers” ●
Alu : Wife of
Makuri
Makuri :
Husband
Igwezu:
son

5. ● Portray Modernity in “The Swamp Dwellers”●
Desala : The
wife of
Igwezu
Awuchike :
Twin brother
of Igwezu

6. Makuri : Ah well.... Those were the days...those days
were really good. Even when times were harsh and
the Swamp overran the land, we were able to laugh
with the Serpent...but these young people...They are
no sooner born than they want to get out of the
village as if it carried a plague...I bet none of them
has ever taken his woman into the swamps.

7. ● How Modernity affect in relationship in the play ●
●Awuchike, Makuri’s elder son, has, long ago, left for
the city and never returned.
● The irony here is that while Awuchike prospered,
Igweju was ruined. When Igweju approached
Awuchike for help, the latter turned him out of his
house.
● Thus, the disintegration of the society can be seen
where in a brother is driven against one’s own
brother.

8. Makuri : It ruins them. The city ruins them.
What do they seek there expect money?
Through this above line we can see Makuri
portray the modern life and also indicate
modern life’s people more attract towards
luxurious life.

9. ● Female Characters in “ The Swamp Dwellers” ●
● There are 2 main Female Characters in this play.
Alu : The woman who select the
rural life.
Desala: The woman who
attracted towards modern and
luxurious life.

10. Makuri : It is not sense they have...not sense
at all. Igwezu was hardly joined to his wife
before he took her off into the city. What
would a girl like Desala do m a place like that,
I ask you. What would she find to do in the
city?
● Modernity : DESALA

11. Igwezu : And yet we are twins. And
in spite of that, he looked at my
wife, and she went to him of her
own accord...Tell me father, are
women so easily swayed by
wealth? Are all women the same?

12. ● Tradition : ALU

13. ● How it Connects with Social media●
So , It’s the era of social
media. People are mostly
spending their time on
social media. But the
relationship among the
people are more virtual
rather than real.

14. ● Women Today ●
Today’s women are more advanced.
They are more attracted towards their
career. The new women can sacrifice
her family.

15. Naomi Osaka
She won 2019
Australian open and
also has been ranked
as Asia’s 1st No.-1 in
Tennis.

16. P V Sindhu
First Indian
women to win a
silver medal in
Olympic
First Indian women
to win a silver
medal in Olympic

17. Hina Jaiswal
First woman flight
engineer to be
inducted into the
Indian Air Force

19. Works Cited
C, S. (2018, November 25). The Swamp Dwellers-
Background. Retrieved Feb 23, 2020, from
GradeSaver: https://www.gradesaver.com/the-
swamp-dwellers
Soyinka, W. (1973). The Swamp Dwellers. In W.
Soyinka, Wole Soyinka- Collected Plays (Vol. 1,
pp. 81-112). Oxford: Oxford University Press.