THE EFFECTS OF COLONIAL IMPOSITION ON AFRICAN CULTURE USING SOYINKA’S “DEATH AND THE KING’S HORSEMAN AND LION AND THE JEWEL”

This study explores on the effects of colonial imposition on African cultures, it goes deep in history to examine and cross-check how this came by, what led to the colonial imposition from colonial masters on African cultures. The purpose is to explore the effects that western culture imposition had on African cultures, examining the resistance, blending that led to these effects. Thus, the study aims to reveal how these impositions of western culture changed the identity of African cultures as well as the struggle to reject these impositions through the qualitative methodology of textual analysis and with a view to showcasing the complex relationship between indigenous cultures imposed by colonial influences. Parts of the findings are the disruption of traditional social structures, the imposition of foreign languages, the introduction of educational systems and introduction of western cultures, beliefs, traditions and values. The Study then concludes that colonial imposition had a deep impact on African cultures identity and form whether positively or negatively as colonial imposition led to the loss of some traditional practices of Africans. The study further recommends that emphasis should be put on why it is important for Africans, both old and young to preserve and appreciate their cultural heritage as this is important to keeping their cultural practices alive and being passed down from generation to generation.