Sundiata Sparknotes

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The story, Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali by T. D. Niane, is told from a griot. Griots are members of a group of storytellers who establish a tradition of oral history in parts of West Africa. Djeli Kouyate is a griot in the country of West Africa who tells this story about Sundiata. Koyate repeatedly, throughout the book, references the importance of the griot and messages behind this to Sundiata. This gives the reader and audience a continuous reminder of the moral of the story. The book is about Sundiata’s trials and tribulations from the beginning to his steps that he went through to rise to power toward the end. Sundiata is seen as a very influential, powerful, and strong individual. He is known as the “epic hero.”
In Sundiata, Kouyate first starts off by giving praise and honor upon himself. He declares, in the …show more content…

King Maghan Kon Fatta, Sundiata’s father, passes away and Sassouma Berete, his first wife, makes her son the king. With the envy Berete possess against Sundiata and Sogolon Kedjou, his mother, she forces them to live in a state of poverty outside of the palace. One day, Sogolon had scarce condiments of food and decided to go to Sassouma to “beg a little baobab leaf.” When she approached Sassouma, the intense ridule actions from Berete began to happen. She teased and talked at Sogolon about how Sundiata could not walk yet and he is seven years old. She says, “`Look you...I have a calabash full. Help yourself, you poor woman. As for me, my son knew how to walk at seven and it was he who went and picked these baobab leaves. Take them then, since your son is unequal to mine.' As a result of these harsh words from Sassouma, it is concluded that Sogolon is very upset , disappointed and ashamed in Sundiata. Sogolon then goes to her son and says, “Oh son of misfortune, will you never walk? Through your fault I have just suffered the greatest affront of my life! What

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