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entity under the colonial system. In an interview with John A. Stotesbury . Soyinka
commen ts on the effects of colonialism on the problem of unity in Nigeria:
We [Nigerians] are victims of a peculiar, of an unnaturalprocess which
interrupted wbar could have beena process of evolution into a larger
political entity . This was interrupted and we were dragooned into these
very artificial boundaries. I think we also have a duty to ensure that any
means of communication betweenthese artificially separated peoples
shoul d in some way ar leasr be preserved (61).3
Soyinka is convinced that colonization interfered with the natural, amicable
progression towards unity that would have taken place between the different pre-
colonial kingdoms that existed. As a result. this premature fusion of the kingdoms has
created numerous political. tribal and socialproblems. Soyinb. uses his talents as a
writer. dramatist, poet. novelist, poli tical activist.andcritic to expose the prob lems
and offer possible solutions through recoveringand validating his people' s history.
Since Nigeria 's official independence from Britain in 1960. the country has
continued to experience political and social problems inherited during colonization.
Nigeri a has gone from one political crisis to another with the main tribesand colonial
elite classes vying for supremacy and control of power. During the last three decades
Nigeria has bad several unsuccessful military regimesand civilian administrations,
rigged electi ons , mass murders , imprisonmentsand executions with or without bogus
trials as. most recently and notoriously in the case of nine civilians including the
talented poe t/writer , Ken Saro-wiwa, in November 1995. A month after these
executions, while Soyinka was in Parisreceiving an award for the imprisoned
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