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Importance of oral tradition as a source of history
Epic of Sundiata
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The Epic of Sundiata, which relates not only information about the Empire of Mali in the 13th and 14th centuries but also details of the ancient Mande Culture, is a valuable document that describes a period of time about which very little is known. Despite this reality, historians continue to debate the epic 's suitability as a historical source. It is clear that such a discussion revolves around the underlying question of the reliability of oral tradition; arguably, to deny the epic solely on the grounds that it relies on oral tradition constitutes a veritable disregard for a form of history that, when employed correctly, may effectively reveal important cultural values and ethics. Any source which relies on oral history generates a debate …show more content…
Conrad asserts that "the practice of consulting only one or at best a few variants of the [Sundiata] corpus lessens the chance of surmounting the already formidable difficulties involved in sifting this material for useful information" and, thus, "only through comparative use of all available material can a potentially historical outline of … Mande history begin to emerge" (148, 156). For example, a common practise among Mande historians, as suggested by authors Ralph A. Austen and Jan Jansen, is to consult the oral sources of the Epic of Sundiata in conjunction with the written works of Ibn Khaldun, in order to glean a complete, or nearly complete, conceptualization of 13th and 14th century Malian history (18). The epic is clearly a valuable historical source, but this does not negate the presence of biases and other such human distortions within it which could generate a false history. By consulting the epic in collaboration with other sources, one is able, to an extent, to surmount this …show more content…
Historian Kassim Kone presents a unique opinion on the question of the suitability of the epic as a historical source by suggesting that "in the Mande, people [did] not expect the [griot] to provide them with historical proofs or dates; they [expected] the [griot] to give a meaning to their lives" (157). As the narrator states, he "[teaches] kings the history of their ancestors so that the lives of the ancients might serve them as an example, for the world is old, but the future springs from the past" (Sundiata 1). In other words, through the narratives of the storytellers, descendants were able to access the wisdom and guidance of their ancestors and apply such messages in the present day. In the Sundiata Epic, values such as loyalty, bravery and religiosity emerge as integral to the Mande people, which offers historians an important insight into their psyche. Such a significant insight cannot be ignored, even if the setting or plot of the narrative is not always historical. Arguably, the Western historiographical preoccupation with facts has masked this alternative, but equally important, use of the
Islam is presented in the Epic of Sundiata in a way that encourages listeners to embrace Islam over their indigenous belief systems. The epic accomplishes this by incorporating elements and practices of the indigenous beliefs into Islamic tradition; and by adapting certain Islamic mythology — such as the Jinn — to the existing West African culture. It also asserts the superior power and strength of those who derive their power from Allah and the Jinn, to those whose power is based in ancestral worship and fetishes. Through conflict, adaptation, and tolerance, the Epic of Sundiata presents an accessible version of Islam to the people of the Mali Empire; and promotes the acceptance of this new faith over the indigenous beliefs of the area.
The past is a secret many ponder upon. Either born into riches or rags, no one knows the complete truth of the olden days. The modern short story “By the Waters of Babylon” portrays both archetypes of an epic hero and an epic journey through the perspective of the main character, John. Throughout the story, John is on an adventure, hoping to achieve the level of success he believes his father has. But, learns something that contradicts what his relatives tell him all his life. Knowing both the characteristics of an epic hero and journey allows the reader to understand the challenges and growth in the characters journey.
The ancient Mesopotamian writing, The Epic of Gilgamesh, gives readers insight into the traditions and customs of the people who wrote it. Like all epics, The Epic of Gilgamesh is the story of a heroic national figure: this epic gives the story of the life of Gilgamesh from his birth as two-thirds god, one-third man to his death. Throughout the epic the importance of loyalty is addressed. In The Epic of Gilgamesh readers see that loyalty is the most important aspect of a Mesopotamian relationship and that there are always consequences for violating trust.
There are three main characteristics that make The Epic of Gilgamesh an epic. The first be...
“Once upon a time in a far away land” in every imagination, is the start of how a prince and a princess live happily ever after. The fairy tales come to mind when thinking about princes, how charming, intelligent admiring, and many more characteristics that the “idyllic” prince has in many minds like my own. The question is simply asked, “What makes the idyllic prince?” most of us think of someone who has high quality and very first class. Niccolo Machiavelli describes an ideal prince as someone who is in control and dominant. The ideal prince should understand warfare and statecraft. Machiavelli was born in Florence Italy in 1496. He served as an administrator and a diplomat in the Florence Republic, and was imprisoned at various points of his career. One of his notable positions was serving as a political advisor to the Borgia family. He knew many political leaders of Italy, particularly Cesare Borgia, who he wrote The Prince about. Machiavelli judges Gilgamesh as a prince based on his behavior, qualities, and characteristics that Machiavelli describes in The Prince and the behavio...
Perhaps one of the main reasons the Epic of Gilgamesh is so popular and has lasted such a long time, is because it offers insight into the human concerns of people four thousand years ago, many of which are still relevant today. Some of these human concerns found in the book that are still applicable today include: the fear and concerns people have in relation to death, overwhelming desires to be immortal, and the impact a friendship has on a person’s life. It does not take a great deal of insight into The Epic of Gilgamesh for a person to locate these themes in the story, and even less introspection to relate to them.
Ever since the beginning of time, man has learned to mature by trials and tribulations. In the beginning of The Epic of Gilgamesh, the protagonist Gilgamesh appears to be an arrogant person who only cares about himself. He abuses all his powers and takes advantage of people with his physical abilities. Basically in the beginning he thinks that no one on earth is better than him. However, just like all epic poems, the protagonist encounters many challenges that make him a better person. So as the story progresses Gilgamesh slowly starts to change his personality. Various events help transform this tyrant to a humble person.
Sundiata developed into a great leader of Mali through hardships, religion, and core/tributary/periphery relationships of states. The djeli who transmitted this information to the translators, is also a manifestation of an institution important in Sundiata’s epic, because without djelis these stories would be lost forever. Sundiata learned about the formation, running and maintenance of African states through interactions with the communities he was introduced to.
The writer acquaints the reader with the idea of myth. While recognizing that researchers contrast enormously on the exact definition, Oswalt demands that this should not discourage the single person from looking for a decent meaning of the saying. While trying to help characterize the saying, he records four essential qualities of a myth. These qualities conclude that people have practically zero natural worth, they are relatively absence of enthusiasm toward history, they are fascinated with magic and the occult, and they refuse to acknowledge obligation regarding individual
Damrosch, David, and David Pike. The Longman Anthology of World Literature. The Ancient World. Volume A. Second Edition. New York: Pearson/Longman, 2009. Pgs. .656-691. Print.
In this day and age, heroes are defined as ordinary people who have special powers, which they use to save the lives of others. However, this has not always been the profile of heroes. Epics, which are as old as time, are tales of a hero’s journeys and achievements. An epic hero, who doesn’t necessarily have super powers, is usually very strong, wise, and has made many admirable accomplishments. An epic hero is perceived as courageous, honorable, and worthy of holding a high rank in hierarchy, such as king or god. In the story “Gilgamesh”, while the main character, Gilgamesh, has an incredible amount of strength and embarks on many dangerous journeys, he still can not be viewed as an epic hero.
Throughout time, people of all cultures have told stories of heroes and kings. The most ancient story we have on record is the tale of King Gilgamesh. This story is an account of the King's journeys and accomplishments. Although it was written over four thousand years ago, many comparisons can be made between the society in which the story was written and our own modern society. In this essay, differences and similarities between the two societies will be examined.
The Epic of Gilgamesh is a moving tale of the friendship between Gilgamesh, the demigod king of Uruk, and the wild man Enkidu. Accepting ones own mortality is the overarching theme of the epic as Gilgamesh and Enkidu find their highest purpose in the pursuit of eternal life.
Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali is truly an incredible piece of work. One fact I find interesting is that this story has been translated twice. Above all it is clear that the purpose of the work is not just to remember Sundiata the man but to celebrate the Empire of Mali as a whole. However, in this reflection I would like to focus in on the very first chapter section of the work, The Words of the Griot Mamadou Kouyayté. Though the chapter is less than 2 pages I think it plays a major role in introducing the story and introducing a theme.
The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Odyssey both are held in high respect by literature analysts and historians alike for the characterization of the hero and his companion, the imagery brought to mind when one of them is read, and the impressive length in relation to the time period it was written in. The similarities that these two epics share do not end with only those three; in fact, the comparability of these works extend to even the information on the author and the archetypes used. However, The Odyssey and The Epic of Gilgamesh contrast from one another in their writing styles, character details, and main ideas. Both epics weave together a story of a lost man who must find his way, but the path of their stories contrast from one another.