PLOT SUMMARY
Act I
As Death and the King’s Horseman opens, Elesin Oba walks through a Nigerian village market at the close of the business day. He is followed by an entourage of drummers and praise-singers, and as he makes his way through the market, he talks with the praise-singer about “the other side” and about the importance of “this day of all days.” Apparently, Elesin Oba is enjoying his last day on earth; at night he will go to join his “great forebears.” The women abandon their work of putting away the goods from their stalls and come to flirt with Elesin, who is obviously a great favorite and well known for his strongest prowess and his many conquests.
Much of the dialogue is written in rhythmic free verse. Elesin Oba dances, and chants the story of the Not-I bird, a bird who fails to fulfill his duty. In an exchange with the crowd, laced with Yoruba proverbs, Elesin Oba promises that when the time comes to fulfill his duty he will not delay. Led by Iyaloja, the mother of the market, the women dress Elesin Oba in their richest cloths and dance around him. Suddenly he is distracted by the sight of a beautiful woman whom he has never seen before. Although she is already engaged to someone else, Elesin Oba demands that he is to be allowed to take her to bed before he dies. Because Elesin Oba is at the threshold between life and death, he cannot be refused. Iyaloja warns him not to be deterred from his duty, and not to bring trouble on the people who will remain. Then, as the other women prepare the young woman to be Elesin’s bride, Iyaloja leaves to prepare the bridal bed.
Act II
This act occurs during the same evening, at the home of the district officer, Simon, a British officer stationed in the British colony of Nigeria. Simon and his wife, Jane, are listening to a tango, dancing in the shadows. A Nigerian officer, working for the British as a native administration policeman, arrives and is horrified to see that Simon and Jane are dressed in the clothing traditionally worn for the Yoruba's traditional dress ceremony, costumes sacred to members of a local religious cult. Simon has confiscated the robes from the cult leaders, and he and Jane plan to wear them to win a prize for best costume at a fancy-dress ball the British are holding that night. Although the Nigerian officer is a Muslim and not a part of the cult, he respects the clothes and will not speak to Simon until he has removed them.
The Nigerian officer and the house-servant Joseph explain that Elesin will commit ritual suicide that night. The Alain or king of Elesin’s people died one month before, but has not yet been buried. According to “native law and custom” Elesin Oba, as the king’s chief horseman, must kill himself that night, so the king will not be alone. Simon and Jane discuss the foolishness of native belief, and remember proudly that Simon helped Elesin’s oldest son, leave the village to attend medical school in England, against his father’s wishes. Simon also reveals a surprise: the prince of England will be at the ball. Although Simon does not care personally what happens to Elesin Oba, he cannot afford to have any trouble while the prince is visiting his district. To prevent Elesin’s death, Simon orders him arrested.
Act III
The third Act returns to the market, where one of the stalls has been converted into a wedding chamber. The Nigerian officer and two constables are attempting to arrest Elesin, but the women stand around them hurling insults, claiming that working for the white man has cost the Nigerian his manhood. The women grab the men’s hats and batons, do a mocking imitation of British officers, and send the men away.
Elesin emerges from the wedding chamber, and shows Iyaloja the stained cloth that proves that the bride was a virgin. As he makes plans for his final moments on earth, he listens to the sound of the ritual drumming; he can tell that the king’s horse and dog have already been killed, and that soon it will be his turn to die. As he listens to the drums, he falls into a state of semi-hypnosis, and begins his passage to the next world. He dances, his limbs becoming heavier and heavier, as the praise-singer calls out to him, wishing Elesin could stay.
Act IV
The fourth Act opens at the home of the resident, the British chief officer, as the prince enters the ballroom accompanied by an orchestra playing “Rule Britannia.” The prince admires Simon and Jane’s Yoruba's traditional attire, then joins the dancing. Alerted by the Nigerian, Simon and the resident have a whispered conference in the hallway. Simon tells his superior about the “strange custom” that Elesin will be prevented from carrying out, and the men agree that there must be no trouble while the prince is visiting. Realizing that it is midnight, Simon leaves hurriedly for the marketplace, leaving Jane to enjoy the rest of the ball.
As soon as Simon is gone, Elesin’s son steps from the shadows to speak with Jane. He gently rebukes her for wearing the sacred Yoruba's garments for a trivial purpose. He thinks the British are disrespectful people, but praises the courage British men have shown in fighting the Second World War, which is raging in Europe but almost unnoticed in Nigeria. Elesin’s son needs to speak with Simon, and asks for Jane’s help in finding him. Word reached Elesin’s in England that the king has died, and Elesin’s son knows that on this night he will be called as oldest son to bury his father. He also knows that Simon will try to prevent Elesin’s suicide, and he wants to stop Simon from making this mistake. He tries to explain to Jane that the tradition is sacred, and that it holds the universe on course even if she and Simon cannot understand it. He can calmly accept his father’s death, because he knows it is necessary.
Simon returns, and Elesin’s son thanks him for not interfering. But there is a commotion outside, and he hears Elesin’s voice. Elesin Oba is alive, shouting accusations at the white men who have brought him shame. Against all propriety, the father and son see each other, something they are forbidden to do once the king is dead. Disgusted by Elesin’s failure, Elesin’s son says, “I have no father” and walks away.
Act V
The final Act is set in Hero’s prison cell. Simon comments on the peaceful night, but Elesin Oba corrects him, telling him that because the ritual has not been enacted, the world will never know peace again. Simon cannot understand the importance of Elesin’s failure, and rejects any suggestion that something is amiss. The two discuss Elesin’s son’s fate. Simon is sure that Elesin’s son will return to England to continue his studies. Elesin Oba is proud that his son, who had seemed to reject his own culture, was man enough to reject him. The mother of market comes to Elesin Oba l, reminding him of her earlier warning. She knows that Elesin Oba, not Simon, is at fault for not carrying out his suicide, because he allowed himself to be distracted by the young woman, and Elesin accepts the blame. Iyaloja, the mother of the market, reveals that she has brought “a burden”: the body of Elesin’s son, who has killed himself in his father’s place. When he sees his son, Elesin Oba manages to strangle himself with his chains. The bride does her wifely duty, closing Elesin’s eyes with dirt, then leaves with Iyaloja, who counsels her, “Now forget the dead, forget even the living. Turn your mind only to the unborn.
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