A Survey of African Poetry in the London Times, Sunday Times, Financial Times, the Times Literary Supplement 1865-1985

Wole Soyinka, a young Nigerian writer who was educated at Leeds University and was a member of the Royal Court Theatre group of writers, is to have his comedy The Lion and the Jewel produced at the Royal Court Theatre on December 8. It will be his second play for the Court, the other was The Invention, which Mr. Soyinka directed in 1959. He has since returned to Nigeria, where he runs two theatre companies. The Lion and the Jewel is a comedy with music and dancing directed by Desmond O'Donovan and designed by Jocelyn Herbert. This will be Jocelyn Herbert's first week for the stage since A Patriot For Me in 1965. The production will be in conjunction with the Tjinle Players, a group of African actors living in London and is particularly appropriate it is said for the Christmas holidays for older children as well as adults. Heading the cast of 21 are Hannah Bright-Taylor as Sidi, the Jewel of Ilujinle, Jomoke Debayo as Sadiku the chief wife, Willie Payne as the Bale of Ilujinle and Femi Euba as Lakunle the schoolteacher.