where does the story of sundiata take place

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What is the story of the Sundiata Epic?

Epic of Sundiata. The Sundiata Keita or Epic of Sundiata (also referred to as the Sundiata Epic or Sunjata Epic) /sʊnˈdʒɑːtə/ is an epic poem of the Malinke people and tells the story of the hero Sundiata Keita (died 1255), the founder of the Mali Empire. The epic is an instance of oral tradition, going back to the 13th century...

What is the story Sunjata?

Sunjata, also known as Sundiata, is an epic poem telling the story of the Malinke people and of Sundiata Keita, who founded the Mali Empire. There is no single definitive source or version of this story, as it has its roots in an oral tradition dating from the 14th century.

Where did Sundiata come from?

Overview Sundiata (also known as Sunjata) is an epic poem of the West African Mandinka (or Malinke) people. There is no single definitive source or version of this story, which originated in oral traditions of the 13th century and was passed down by griots, Mandinka poet-historians and regal advisors.

What is the story of Sundiata and Sogolon?

Moussa Tounkara accepts Sogolon and Sundiata and takes Sundiata on his first military campaign. When Sundiata performs well, the king vows to make Sundiata a great warrior. When Sundiata is 18, Sogolon reminds Sundiata that his destiny lies in Mali.

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When did the Epic of Sundiata take place?

13th centuryThe epic is an instance of oral tradition, going back to the 13th century and narrated by generations of griot poets or jeliw (djeli). There is no single or authoritative version.

Where is the Epic of Sundiata from?

Sun-Jata (Son-Jara, Sundiata) was the founder of the Empire of Mande, the second largest multi-ethnic, medieval empire in West Africa (c1230-c1600s). Today, his memory is celebrated by an orally transmitted epic, sung by professional bards.

Where was the Empire of Mali located?

West AfricaFrom the 13th to 17th century, West Africa was home to the great Mali Empire. Established by King Sundiata Keita, the kingdom united several smaller, Malinké Kingdoms near the Upper Niger River.

Is Sunjata a true story?

Many may not know of this, but one of the highest-grossing films because it is based on the African Legend- a true story. This true story is based on Sundiata Keita, the founder of the Malian Empire. The Malian Empire was the biggest in West Africa from 1235 to 1255.

What is the story Sundiata about?

Sundiata Keita was the first ruler of the Mali Empire in the 13th century C.E. He laid the foundation for a powerful and wealthy African empire and proclaimed the first charter of human rights, the Manden Charter.

Who ruled Mali after Sundiata?

Mansa Kankan Musa IAfter Sundiata, the most famous ruler of the Mali empire is Mansa Kankan Musa I, who came to power several decades after the death of his legendary predecessor. Musa was not the first emperor of Mali to embrace Islam; unlike the Soninke and the Soso, Mande royalty adopted the religion relatively early.

What was Mali called before?

1890-99. Mali became known as Soudan Francais (French Soudan).

Who named Mali?

One Mandinka tradition tells that the legendary first emperor Sundiata Keita changed himself into a hippopotamus upon his death in the Sankarani River and that it's possible to find villages in the area of this river, termed "old Mali", which have Mali for a name.

Who wrote Sundiata An Epic of Old Mali?

Djibril Tamsir NianeSundiata: An Epic of Old Mali / AuthorDjibril Tamsir Niane was a Guinean historian, playwright, and short story writer. Wikipedia

What warrior king founded the empire of Mali and had an epic named for him?

Sundiata Keita (Mandinka, Malinke: [sʊndʒæta keɪta]; c. 1217 – c. 1255) (also known as Manding Diara, Lion of Mali, Sogolon Djata, son of Sogolon, Nare Maghan and Sogo Sogo Simbon Salaba) was a prince and founder of the Mali Empire.

Is Timbuktu in the Sahara Desert?

Situated on the edge of the Sahara Desert, Timbuktu was famous among the merchants of the Mediterranean basin as a market for obtaining the goods and products of Africa south of the desert.

What is Sundiata's historical destiny?

Sundiata is told throughout his life that he is destined to unite and expand Mali, and he never doubts the truth of the prophecy. On the other hand, those characters that do doubt Sundiata's foretold success are punished when they are conquered, or they simply vanish from the story.

What is Sundiata's role in the epic?

In one version of the epic, Sundiata is able to walk after his father dies and his mother orders him to do so. He then becomes a great hunter. Nonetheless, the hatred of Sassouma Bereté and Dankaran Toumani Keita soon drove Sundiata, his mother, and his two sisters into exile in the Mema kingdom. In one version of the epic, Sundiata ...

Who is Sundiata's sister?

This is represented in the epic by the support of Sundiata's sister, Kolonkan, in watching over him against Sassouma's attempts at witchcraft, and by his siblings' later support of him in his battle to reclaim Mali. Maternal support is also important for Sundiata to overcome his physical impairment and begin to walk in response to his mother's ...

What is the epic poem of Sundiata Keita?

The Sundiata Keita or Epic of Sundiata (also referred to as the Sundiata Epic or Sunjata Epic) / sʊnˈdʒɑːtə / is an epic poem of the Malinke people that tells the story of the hero Sundiata Keita (died 1255), the founder of the Mali Empire.

Why is maternal support important in Sundiata?

Maternal support is also important for Sundiata to overcome his physical impairment and begin to walk in response to his mother's pleading. The importance of the mother is underscored by the narrator, who says "the child is worth no more than the mother is worth.".

Who was the king of Mandinka?

In the Epic of Sundiata (also spelled Son-Jara or Sundjata) Naré Maghann Konaté (also called Maghan Kon Fatta or Maghan the Handsome) was a Mandinka king who one day received a soothsaying hunter at his court. The hunter predicted that if Konaté married an ugly woman, she would give him a son who would one day be a mighty king. Naré Maghann Konaté was already married to Sassouma Bereté and had a son by her, Dankaran Toumani Keïta. However, when two Traoré hunters from the Do kingdom presented him an ugly, hunchbacked woman named Sogolon, he remembered the prophecy and married her. She soon gave birth to a son, Sundiata Keita, who was unable to walk throughout his childhood. Sassouma was jealous of the child and mother and would make fun of Sundiata for his inability to walk and the ugliness he inherited from his mother. Despite his physical weakness, the king still granted Sundiata his own griot at young age; this was in order to have them grow together and provide constant consultation as was the custom.

When was the epic of the Africans published?

During the 1890s , versions of the epic were collected by French officials and published in French and German translation beginning in 1898. Western-educated West Africans began to produce literary versions of the tale beginning in the 1930s.

Who is Soumaoro Kanté?

Meanwhile, Soumaoro Kanté, a historical leader of the Sosso people who rose to prominence after the demise of the Ghana Empire but who is portrayed in the epic as a cruel sorcerer king, attacked the Mandinka kingdom, causing Dankaran Toumani to take flight in fear.

Sundiata and the Role of Griots in West African Culture

Before we delve into the story of Sundiata itself, we should quickly look at the roles that griots (called jaliw in the local Mandé languages) play in West African societies. Jaliw are most known as storytellers and musicians, playing instruments such as the 21-stringed kora in an official capacity.

How Many Versions of the Sundiata Story Exist?

As an oral tradition, the tale of Sundiata was recited for centuries without being written down. Only relatively recently (in the early twentieth century) did scholars start to record the epic with pen and paper.

The Coming of the Hunters

Regardless of which version of the story you read or hear, the epic of Sundiata is the story of a prophecy. The tale begins with the arrival in medieval Mali of two hunters, who had recently killed a shape-shifting buffalo woman terrorizing the land of Do.

The Conflict With Soumaoro Kanté

Sundiata sets off for his homeland, eager to fulfill his destiny. During his journey back, however, he hears of the ruler of Sosso — a harsh, violent sorcerer-blacksmith named Soumaoro Kanté — and his recent conquests. Soumaoro has captured Mali, overthrowing Dankaran Touman.

The Final Confrontation and Destiny Fulfilled

The Battle of Kirina is the decisive stage of Sundiata’s conflict with Soumaoro Kanté. The heir of Mali forges an alliance with Soumaoro’s own insurgent nephew, Fakoli Koroma. Attaching a cock’s spur to his arrow to form the arrowhead, he heads into battle.

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By Greg Pasciuto BA History Greg is a Stonehill College graduate and aspiring writer and editor from Boston, MA. When he isn’t working his full-time job, you might find him reading, completing creative word searches, or just looking to learn new skills for life.

Who is the king of kings in the movie Sundiata?

As Sundiata prepares for his return to Mali, Soumaoro stands as the king of kings. Sosso is the "bulwark of fetishism against the world of Allah." Soumaoro wears shoes made from human skin, and possesses power from several jinn. He's an evil demon and observes no taboos—he enjoys flogging important elders, and habitually abducts young girls but doesn't marry them.

What does Mamoudou Kouyaté say about Sundiata?

He states that griots know the histories of kings, which makes them great counselors. Further, kings want singers to write songs that will perpetuate their memories. He continues that seers see the future of kings, while griots know the past, but by knowing the past one can predict the future. Finally, he says that writing has killed memory, as cultures that write don't feel the past without the "warmth of the human voice."

Why did Dankaran Touman fade out of the story?

This is the last time Dankaran Touman is mentioned, and he fades out of the story because he has no griot to perpetuate his memory. Sundiata now has no family members to fight against; his only adversary is Soumaoro and his evil.

Why does Soumaoro reject Islam?

Sundiata has lived in places that observe both Islam and local religion, while Soumaoro appears to reject Islam entirely in favor of worshipping particularly evil jinn. This is linked to Soumaoro's sense of evil, and it explains his enjoyment of destroying families.

Is Sundiata incomplete?

A reader doesn't get to experience the sense of community that comes from listening to someone else recite the tale, so a reader’s experience of Sundiata is necessarily incomplete.

Where does Sundiata live?

The poem is also a central cultural narrative of the Mandinka people, who today live throughout Mali, Guinea, and the Ivory Coast. Sundiata first appeared in written Arabic in the late 1800s. French and German versions were published just prior to the 20th century, and West Africans began writing variations by the 1930s.

What is the Sundiata myth?

Sundiata’s story is part of the official national mythology of Mali, Gambia, Guinea, and Senegal. It remains an indelible part of Mande culture and is perpetually retold and performed. Unlock this. Study Guide!

What did Sassouma do to the Baobab tree?

He successfully attempts to walk using the rod, which bends into the shape of a bow under his strength. He then uproots a baobab tree in another demonstration of strength. Soon after, Sassouma jealously drives Sundiata and Sogolon into exile.

Why is Sundiata unable to walk?

Because Sundiata was born unable to walk, and because of his mother Sogolon’s ugliness, both are subject to the ridicule of the new king and his mother Sassouma Bérété. At one point, after Sassouma insults Sogolon, Sundiata obtains an iron rod from the blacksmith.

What is the meaning of Sundiata?

Sundiata (also known as Sunjata) is an epic poem of the West African Mandinka (or Malinke) people. There is no single definitive source or version of this story, which originated in oral traditions of the 13th century and was passed down by griots, Mandinka poet-historians and regal advisors. Sundiata is a quasi-mythological biography of King Sundiata Keita, who founded the Mali Empire, which lasted from 1235 to 1400. The poem is also a central cultural narrative of the Mandinka people, who today live throughout Mali, Guinea, and the Ivory Coast.

What kingdom offers asylum to Sundiata?

Although many kingdoms in the region refuse to take them in, the Mema kingdom offers them asylum. While in Mema, Sundiata grows and is said to develop the strength of a lion. He serves under a great general and proves his military and tactical prowess, and then earns the position of viceroy to the king.

Who wrote Sundiata?

There is no single definitive source or version of this story, which originated in oral traditions of the 13th century and was passed down by griots, Mandinka poet-historians and regal advisors. Sundiata is a quasi-mythological biography of King Sundiata Keita, who founded the Mali Empire, which lasted from 1235 to 1400. The poem is also a central cultural narrative of the Mandinka people, who today live throughout Mali, Guinea, and the Ivory Coast.

Where is the story of Sundiata found?

Today, the story of Sundiata is found not only among his native Mandinka people, but throughout the entire Mandingo language group which is spoken in Guinea, Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal, and Gambia. The main vehicle for the transmission of this story is the professional bard called the griot or, more properly, the jali. The jali is trained from childhood in the art of oral poetry. Within the Sundiata story itself, the jali Balla Foureke plays an important role as adviser to the king and as the keeper of the royal memory. The modern jali does not have a king, but he still serves the same memorializing function in the community.

Where did Sundiata originate?

Although Sundiata's genealogy is based in West Africa, the origins of the family are traced back to Bilali Bounama, the first muezzin and companion of the prophet Muhammad. Like most medieval Muslim dynasties, the Mali emperors linked themselves to the prophet's family or with someone near them. Thus Sundiata is tied both to his ancestral land in Mali and to the newer religion which had spread through northern Africa.

What is the meaning of the Sundiata?

Sundiata (also spelled Sunjata, Sundjata, or Soundjata) is an oral epic celebrating the life of Sundiata, the founder of the thirteenth-century Mali Empire of West Africa. There are written versions of the epic (just as there are written summaries of movies or film adaptations of books) but its original form is as an oral poem, performed by a jali - a professional bard.

Who analyzes the Sundiata epic through the lens of the Hero's Journey?

This interview with Edan Dekel analyzes the Sundiata epic through the lens of the Hero's Journey.

What structure is used in the Sundiata epic?

This plot summary of the Sundiata epic organizes the tale using the Monomyth structure.

Where does Sunjata gather his army?

Sunjata now assembles a large army from among the rebellious kings of the land. He enters the land of the Niger River and all the allies assemble in the great plain of Sibi where Sunjata surveys the troops. Sunjata makes preparations for a large-scale invasion of Mali and is offering sacrifices to the gods when he is informed that his sister Nana Triban and the old griot Balla Fasseke have escaped from Sosso and have arrived at his camp. Nana tells Sunjata how she had been forced to marry Sumanguru by her brother Dankaran. She became the chosen wife and deceived him for a long while by pretending to hate Sunjata so that she might learn the secret of his magic power. One night she asked him directly whether he was a man or a supernatural being, and in his pride, Sumanguru boasted to her and revealed that his magic totem is cock's spur. She then escaped Sosso with the help of Balla Fasseke. Sunjata rejoices at having recovered his griot so that the memory of his great deeds will be preserved.

What is Sogolon's daughter's name?

One day, Sogolon's daughter Kolonkan is walking through the marketplace when she notices some merchants offering Baobab leaves for sale. When she reveals that she and her family are from Mali, the merchants ask to speak with her mother. Sogolon asks that they be brought to her immediately, and while she is waiting, Sunjata and Manding-Bory return from hunting. When the merchants arrive, Sogolon instantly recognizes them as high-ranking officials at the court of Niani. After greetings are exchanged, the officials recount how Sumanguru, the sorcerer-king of Sosso, has overtaken Mali and driven Dankaran Touman into exile. Some brave men managed to escape and are waging war against Sumanguru, but they need the strength and leadership of Sunjata in order to regain their homeland. The emissaries ask Sunjata to reclaim his rightful throne and free his people from bondage. Sunjata agrees and decides to take leave of the king and return homeward immediately.

Why does Sosso deploy his troops at the entrance of the mountain pass?

Sosso deploys his troops at the entrance of the mountain pass in order to block Sunjata's advance, and when the young warrior arrives that evening, his men suggest that they rest for the night and attack in the morning. Sunjata prefers the element of surprise and assures his men that the battle will not take long.

What river did Sunjata and Sogolon cross?

Sunjata, Sogolon, and Manding-Bory cross the Niger river and begin their long exile. They enter a world of long marches, hostile kingdoms, and numerous dangers.

Where does Sogolon go in Exile?

Once again, Sogolon and her children go into exile. They head west toward the town of Tabon whose king has long been an ally of Niani. His son, Fran Kamara, was a close friend of Sunjata. But the king does not want any trouble from Sassouma and her son, and so he advises Sogolon to travel as far away as possible.

Where did Sumanguru retreat?

The remains of Sumanguru's army retreat to Sosso. Sunjata marches on the great city, and although the defenses are formidable, he lays siege to the city and breaches the wall within a day. Sunjata orders his troops to take all the inhabitants prisoner and destroy the city completely.

Where does Sundiata gather his forces?

Sundiata gathers his forces at Ka-ba. All the kings pledge allegiance to Sundiata, and the sofas perform their war dances. Sundiata creates alliances between his kingdoms and officially grants the kings their new kingdoms. He proclaims Balla Fasséké grand master of ceremonies. Sundiata remains in Ka-ba for several days and then begins the journey to Niani. He finds the city sad and burnt, but he restores it to be larger and more glorious than before. In the new empire, Manding Bory acts as Sundiata's viceroy. Sundiata holds a yearly assembly of kings and dignitaries at Niani, and this assembly allows Sundiata to maintain control and justice. Mali flourishes under Sundiata's rule.

Who is the narrator of Sundiata?

Sundiata Summary. Mamoudou Kouyaté, a griot and the narrator, says that griots are the vessels of speech and the keepers of history who teach kings their history so they can predict the future. Mamoudou Kouyaté asks the reader to listen to the history of Mali and of Sundiata. At first, Mali was ruled by Bambara kings, ...

What does Sundiata carry?

On the day of the battle, Sundiata carries an arrow made of wood and tipped with the spur of a white cock. Balla Fasséké shares that he saw the end of Soumaoro in a dream. As the battle rages, Sundiata shoots the arrow at Soumaoro. Soumaoro feels his powers leave him and turns to retreat. Sundiata and Fakoli chase him.

What happens when Sundiata returns?

When Sundiata returns and realizes what's happened he confronts his brother and vows to return to Mali. Dankaran Touman is shaken, but at his mother's prodding, he decides that if he sees Sundiata and Manding Bory again he'll kill them. Sogolon and her children travel to Djaba.

What does Mari Djata ask for?

Mari Djata calmly asks for an iron rod and declares he'll walk today. He asks his mother if she'd like only the baobab leaves or the entire tree, and Sogolon asks for the entire tree. Balla Fasséké fetches a sturdy iron rod from the smith and offers it to Mari Djata.

Why does Sogolon leave Niani?

Sogolon suggests that she and her children leave Niani, as she knows that Sassouma will now turn to hurting Manding Bory and Sundiata's sisters. Sundiata agrees and Balla Fasséké plans for the journey, but Dankaran Touman sends Balla to Sosso to speak with the king Soumaoro Kanté, effectively robbing Sundiata of his griot. When Sundiata returns and realizes what's happened he confronts his brother and vows to return to Mali. Dankaran Touman is shaken, but at his mother's prodding, he decides that if he sees Sundiata and Manding Bory again he'll kill them.

How many witches are there in the book Sundiata?

By age ten, Mari Djata becomes known as Sundiata. He's very popular amongst his peers, and fearing this popularity, Sassouma assembles nine witches and asks them to kill Sundiata. The witches make a show of "stealing" from Sogolon's garden to provoke Sundiata, but Sundiata generously offers them vegetables and meat. The witches, astounded by his kindness, offer to protect the boy.

Overview

Sunjata [/sʊnˈdʒɑːtə/] (also referred to as Sundiata or Son-Jara) is an epic poem of the Malinke people that tells the story of the hero Sundiata Keita (died 1255), the founder of the Mali Empire. The epic is an instance of oral tradition, going back to the 13th century and narrated by generations of griot poets or jeliw (djeli). There is no single or authoritative version. Material pertaining to the epic first began to be collected during the early 20th century in French Sudan, n…

Historical context and significance

Plot

Selected versions in English translation

Further reading

External links