Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali
SynopsisPlot
Retold by griots, the guardians of African Culture, this oral tradition has been handed down from the thirteenth century and captures all the mystery and majesty of medieval African kingship. It is the epic tale, based on an actual figure, of Sundiata (Sunjata). Part history and part legend, it tells how Sundiata fulfilled the prophesies that he would unite the twelve kingdoms of Mali into a powerful empire.
Story
About this book
Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali presents the story of Sundiata Keita, a historical figure from the thirteenth century who united twelve kingdoms into the Mali Empire. The account is drawn from the oral tradition preserved by griots, professional storytellers and historians who have passed this narrative through generations in West Africa. Djibril Tamsir Niane, a Guinean historian, collected and transcribed the tale, giving it written form while retaining the voice and structure of spoken performance.
The narrative blends historical events with legend. Sundiata is said to have been prophesied as a great unifier, and the story follows his path from an unlikely beginning toward that destiny. Along the way, it traces the social customs, religious beliefs, and political arrangements of medieval West African kingdoms. The revised edition of the book adds background material covering the geographical, religious, social, and political setting of the story, helping readers locate these events within a broader context.
Niane's role as editor and translator places the text between oral and written literary traditions. The griots who preserved the epic served as living archives, carrying not only the events but also the cultural meaning attached to them across centuries.
