Kongi’s Harvest – by Wole Soyinka

Kongi’s Harvest, written by Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, is a bold and satirical political play that critiques post-independence African leadership, tyranny, and the betrayal of democratic ideals. Set in the fictional Republic of Isma, the play follows President Kongi, a self-styled ruler seeking absolute control and public validation through a symbolic harvest festival.

When Kongi tries to force a respected traditional ruler, Oba Danlola, to publicly endorse his regime, tensions erupt between traditional authority and modern autocracy. Blending ritual, irony, and political commentary, Soyinka paints a powerful portrait of African statesmen turned dictators in the wake of colonialism.