Good Essay About Sunjata As An Epic Poem

An epic is a poetic genre that is traditional in nature, but which has also been used in modern times. Epic has been extended to modern day forms of art such as film, novels, television and even video games. Many societies in the world have traditional stories that qualify as epic because of their characteristics. Among the Mali of West Africa, is a traditional poem called Sunjata or Sundiata. The poem tells the history of the Mali Empire. It is a story that is said to have originated in the 14th century in the present day Mali. It has been passed down to present day society through the centuries and it, depicts the characteristics of an epic as will be highlighted in this essay.
This epic story is filled with supernatural figures and elements starting with the mysterious birth of the hero up to his extraordinary strength. Sunjata happens to be the real founder of the Mali Empire. His step mother gave a curse that he could be born lame and true to her curse, Sunjata turned lazy after birth. He was also greedy and ugly and for a long time, he could not walk and rarely spoke. Because of what had befallen him, the first wife made her son King after Maghan, Sunjata’s father died. But as fate could have it, Sunjata told his mother that he could walk and true to his word, he stood up and walked. He also lifted a heavy iron rod, bending it and, therefore, making him the strongest man in the land (Conrad 35). In fact, the characteristic strength that he possesses set him aside as a supernatural being. As an epic, the plot centers on him, not only as a hero, but also as a man with the supernatural stature.
This epic seeks to put to display the qualities and characteristics of Sunjata. The most outstanding characteristic that is shown is his supernatural strength. The poem tells of his strength even when he is a crippled and cannot walk. It is said that his arms were very strong, at the very time that he was able to stand up and walk; he bends a rod and makes a bow out of it. He was able to pull a tree by its roots much to the surprise of everyone. Such are the characteristics that make the poem an epic because the main character of the poem is presented as different from a normal human being. But aside from that, his bravery is also out of this world as seen through his exploits at war. He ends up as a great king, hunter, and warrior.
Another quality of an epic that Sunjata fulfills is that of it spanning a long period. This epic covers a vast period, scope and even geographical space (Austen 71). This epic covers a long period spanning the age of Sunjata, from the time he was born up to his death. During this time, the activities that are highlighted center on him, from the time he was born, when he was crawling and also, when he was not able to walk. The reader also gets to know when he was at war and even his life at the war. The reader also gets to see him as and the king of his people; moving from one city to another, going into exile and doing so many other things. In Sunjata, the listener or reader is introduced to a society and its cultural beliefs and practices that are displayed over a certain period. As for the geographical space, one gets to learn that the epic tells the history of the Mandinka, from its inception. As a historian, all one needs to know is the history of present-day Mali by reading or listening to this epic poem; and indeed, ascertain that it traces its roots to what is told in this epic.
All epics are meant to validate, celebrate and also retell the history of a given group of people. And in this case, it is the Mandinka people who are found in Mali, a West African country that the epic talks about (Johnson 61). This epic has been passed down from one generation to the other, and one of the purposes that it has served is to pass down a true history of how the kingdom came into being. At the same time, outsiders of this kingdom or country get to know a great leader that helped form the kingdom. In so doing, Sunjata is made bigger and famous, just like he was at the time of the formation of the epic. A genealogy is presented; that helps set the kingdom and the king aside as not only supernatural but also different from the rest of the world.
Also as an epic, it is evident that there is a battle between good and evil. The hero depicted in an epic should have people from evil, and that is why they are given the hero status. Sunjata can save his people from eminent danger, and even goes on to propel himself into greatness thereby, becoming king. He thwarts death and disability much to the surprise of everyone and displays superhuman strength and abilities. Sunjata accomplishes what normal human beings may not have accomplished, and this characteristic helps build him as a hero, and the poem as an epic (Johnson, Hale & Belcher 39).
Austen, Ralph, A. In Search of Sunjata: The Mande Oral Epic as History, Literature and Performance. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1999. Print
Conrad, David, C. Sunjata: A West African Epic of the Mande Peoples. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishers, 2004. Print
Johnson, William, J. The epic of Son- Jara: A West African Tradition. Bloomington: Indiana State University, 1992. Print
Johnson, William, J., Hale, Thomas, A. & Belcher, Stephen. Oral Epics from Africa: Vibrant Voices from a Vast Continent. Bloomington: Indiana State University, 1997. Print