Elesin Oba

Character Analysis

When the play opens, we learn that our protagonist is a dead man walking. According to tradition, as the late king's horseman, Elesin must now commit suicide to join his king. The entire play revolves around his preparations for this event… and the attempts of local British authorities to derail it, of course.

A Brave and Honorable Chief?

If Iyaloja and the other "women of the market" are to be believed, Elesin has a rep for being an honorable dude; they tell him "We know you for a man of honour" (1.45), a phrase that ends up being a refrain as Elesin prepares for his journey to the afterlife.

That said, there seems to be some concern that Elesin, brave as he is, will fall short of the finish line when it comes time to actually die. For example, the Praise-Singer finds Elesin's behaviors and questions a little suspicious leading up to the event:

ELESIN: I embrace it. And let me tell you, women—
I like this farewell that the world designed,
Unless my eyes deceive me, unless
We are already parted, the world and I,
And all that breeds desire is lodged
Among our tireless ancestors. Tell me friends,
Am I still earthed in that beloved market
Of my youth? Or could it be my will
Has outleapt the conscious act and I have come
Among the great departed?

PRAISE-SINGER: Elesin-Oba why do your eyes roll like a bush-rat who sees his fate like his father's spirit, mirrored in the eye of a snake? And all these questions! You're standing on the same earth you've always stood upon. This voice you hear is mine, Oluhun-iyo, not that of an acolyte in heaven. (1.74-75)

The Praise-Singer seems to think that Elesin's questions and eye rolling mean he's nervous—which would obviously make the Praise-Singer anxious, since Elesin's waffling could jeopardize not just the whole tradition, but the very balance of the universe. Yikes.

The Praise-Singer isn't the only one with doubts about Elesin, and Iyaloga also gets worried about his resolve when he indicates he wants to get married on his final day on earth, possible indicating he's too interested in earthly, er, pleasures to move on to the other side.

Elesin justifies his desire to marry and procreate as part of a desire to "travel light" (1.98) to the afterlife, but Iyaloja still slips in some words of warning/guidance just in case. She says:

"The living must eat and drink. When the moment comes, don't turn the food to rodents' droppings in their mouth. Don't let them taste the ashes of the world when they step out at dawn to breath the morning dew." (1.122)

Iyaloja's warnings rub Elesin the wrong way, and he replies, "This doubt is unworthy of you Iyaloja" (1.123). But is the doubt unworthy of Iyaloja, or is Elesin totally worthy of doubt? Because the thing is, he does end up failing to cross over before the ritual is interrupted, and he does blame his bride for his inability to move quickly to the afterlife. So it looks like, perhaps, the concerns Iyaloja and the Praise-Singer voice about Elesin's intentions and strength are not so far-fetched after all.

Ladies Man

Elesin seems to have spent some serious time being quite the ladies man. But don't take our word for it—just ask him. At one point, Elesin exclaims:

"As Horseman of the King, the juiciest
Fruit on every tree was mine. I saw,
I touched, I wooed, rarely was the answer No." (1.76)

Well then. Looks like somebody was pretty popular with the ladies, and pretty used to getting what he wants from them. We can tell how popular Elesin is among the local women when he feigns being mad at them and they are beside themselves trying to figure out why, and then are super relieved when he reveals it was all a gag. They then leap into action getting him outfitted in proper attire and ready for the ritual in which he will sacrifice himself. Because, you know, they love him.

Doting Father (Not)

Of course, every hero has flaws and personal drama, and Elesin is no exception, even before he fails to achieve his mission. We learn pretty quickly that Elesin is estranged from his oldest son, Olunde, because the kid wanted to attend medical school in England.

Apparently Elesin even locked Olunde up to prevent him from leaving, but the local District Officer, Simon Pilkings, busted him out and facilitated his passage. As a result, Elesin had disowned Olunde for breaking from his family's customs and leaving the community.

However, the tables end up being turned when Elesin fails to complete his duty, and Olunde is so ashamed that he disowns Elesin as his father. Olunde then sacrifices himself to help complete the ritual that Elesin couldn't complete, thereby bringing about a pretty complete role reversal. We know Elesin adores his son because he immediately kills himself upon realizing what's happened, but unfortunately for these two and their relationship, it's too little, too late.