M.Tech. Drama and Film Studies. / The aim of this thesis is to explore the concept of Africanisation in the context of the Yoruba culture of the South West of Nigeria. It seeks to study the nature and form of life among the Yoruba people through the lens of selected plays by playwright and novelist Wole Soyinka, focusing on the motivations for the culture that is observed among the Yoruba speaking people. This study seeks to answer two major questions using the qualitative research method. These questions are: What cultural hallmarks and identities of the Yoruba people are represented in the selected plays of Wole Soyinka, which are Death and the Kings Horseman, The Strong Breed and The Lion and the Jewel and how are these represented? And, what is Africanisation and how has Africa responded to it? In order to achieve the above aims, the thesis is written in two parts. The first part focuses on Africanisation and African Renaissance, while the second part focuses on the analysis of the culture of the Yoruba people as presented by Wole Soyinka in the selected plays. As a philosophy, Africanisation entails, but is not limited to, the art of producing and appraising a knowledge system based on African cultures for the benefit of Africa and the world at large. According to Makhanya, Africanisation is acknowledging and introducing knowledge systems that are rooted in and relevant to Africa next to other knowledge systems in the quest to discover, explain and produce knowledge (cited in Ratshikuni, 2010:1). The selected plays analysed are culturally rich Yoruba plays. Some of the ethos of the Yoruba people, including communal life, music and drumming, naming, sacrifice, and death, among others, as represented by the playwright are expounded upon and documented. vi The methodology employed to obtain data for this study is the qualitative research method. This entails content analysis of the plays with a view to studying the cultural content in the plays. In conclusion, the thesis argues that Yoruba culture has sufficient value that can be of great benefit to the unity and progress of Africa and the world at large. But first, Africa and Africans must embrace their cultural values, expose them to the world and allow some culture of the world to blend with it so as to create a greater, meaningful and global impact.