Essay On Sundiata

The epic Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali by D.T. Niane divulges the story of Sundiata Keita and the formation of the Mali Empire in West Africa. Through this classic the prominence of tradition, music, and spiritual ritual in Mandinka culture is revealed. This pre-colonial literature converted into a guide to those Africans confounded after the European Colonial rule. The impact of the literature enlightened Africans that were battling the internal conflict of accepting the new enforced idealism of Colonial living or reverting to back to African roots. A sense of pride can be collected from this epic through the transformation of Sundiata Keita and his destiny to become king against all odds.

Culture is comprised of the unique beliefs, values, and behaviors of a civilization of people. Niane uncovers the Mandinka history through the shared oral traditions in the forms of stories, songs and proverbs by the griot, Djeli Mamadou Kouyaté (Niane, p. 1). The Mandinka culture is renowned for their griots. A griot is a West African historian, storyteller, praise singer, poet and/or musician. The griot is a repository of oral tradition. Their inherited tradition was passed down through many generations. The griots are “vessels of speech” and only divulge truthful information. In medieval Africa griots were principal figures. Griots were counselors to rulers, preservers of constitutions and laws, tutors to princes, and markers of tradition (Niane, p. xxiv).

Most Mandinkas practiced a mix of Islam and traditional animist practices. The epic reveals the importance of religion to the people of the Keita Dynasty. Eluded throughout the epic are the religions of Islam and Traditional African Religion. A reference to the Islamic religion is seen...

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...all. This story gave hope and confidence to those who desired it after European Colonial rule.

The significance of the oral epic is grand. It permits for the stories collected by the griots of history of the Mandinka people and their role in the Mali Empire to be shared. Sundiata Keita transformed a symbol, a symbol of hope. A boy destined for greatness even when he had to uncover that greatness in his own time by his own terms. This epic shows that Africans accomplished something great, that no external source was necessary. In addition that patience is a virtue. Many great accomplishments take time. Sundiata willingness to wait was a great attribution. It is seen in his patience in reclaiming Mali. He waits until it is ready instead of attacking at the wrong time. Sundiata was a man of his word. Overall, Sundiata was an astounding hero that Africans could model.