Quotes From Maghan Sundiata

P. 1: "I teach 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."

I thought this section of the text was important because right away the griot sets the tone early on how important griots are in protecting secrets of the past and guiding future generations. The entire book emphasizes remembering the past as a keystone in their society in Hali.

P. 45: "Maghan Sundiata, I salute you; king of Mali, the throne of your fathers awaits you…Weeping mothers pray only in your name, the assembled kings await you, for your name alone inspires confidence in them. Son of Sogolon, your hour has come, the words of the old Gnankouman Doua are

about to come to pass, for you are the giant who will crush the giant Soumaoro."

As we talked about in class this moment is a key transformation for not only Sundiata but how he is viewed by everyone else in his society.

Also I find it weird that Sundiata welcomes them back so easy. The public gave up on his destiny and mocked him but now all call him their king.

P. 15 "God has his mysteries which none can fathom. You, perhaps, will be a king. You can do nothing about it. You, on the other hand, will be unlucky, but you can do nothing about that either. Each man finds his way already marked out for him and he can change nothing of it."

In this section the importance of destiny is again reminded to us. In this story the idea of God chooses your destiny and some of us become kings and some become slaves. It doesn’t matter what you do because you can’t change your destiny God has picked out for you.

P. 40 “In this way war between Sundiata and Soumaoro became inevitable”

The griot has just been caught playing Soumaoro’s griot knows instrument. He knows the king (Soumaoro) has a big ego and starts singing a song on the spot praising the King. While stroking his ego the King demands that the griot become his griot. This is very comical because of all the horrible things the king has done to Sudinata but once he wants the griot then that’s the final

straw.

P. 63 "Griots are men of the spoken word, and by the spoken word we give life to the gestures of kings. But words are nothing but words; power lies in deeds. Be a man of action; do not answer me any more with your mouth, but tomorrow, on the plain of Krina, show me what you have me recount to coming generations."

Balla Fassekes advice to Sundiata before his final battle with Soumaoro. The entire book the griot speaks of the importantance of remembering and the spoken word. This is the only time the griot says action is more important in this moment and explaining to Sundiata how he will become a hero to his people. Balla wants Sundiata to become a place in history as the person who defeated King soumaoro.