Essays on Sundiata

Griots hold a significant place in epics. According to the T’heydinn epic, griots perform the epic and they are aided by traditional instruments like the lute and harp. The argument is that griots “preserve the collective memory of society through poems, passing down knowledge and skills from father to son, with young griots first learning the instrumental skills before being initiated to into the poetic tradition” UNESCO n. p.). Here the role that griots play in society is said to be indispensable. To say that they are responsible for the memory of the whole society amounts to some ...

Introduction

The remarkable work of Djanka Tassey Conde on the oral epic titled Sunjata emphasizes on celebrating the founder of the Mali Empire in West Africa in the thirteenth century. Although the oral poems originating from the Mali people considerably contains nuance due to the nature of transmitting historical information; the story remains a known epic not only among the native Mandinka, but also among the people of Senegal and Gambia. The discussion focuses on determining how oral tradition is being used as history through the lenses of destiny. Furthermore, the discussion also focuses on finding what people can learn about ...

Portrayal of Women in D.T. Niane’s Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali Written by D.T Niane and translated by G. D. Pickett, 'Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali' recounts the epic story of Sundiata who was the founder of the Mali empire. This epic is an example of oral history narrated by griot poets aka djeli who before the invention of manuscript passed down the stories of kings and emperors from one generation to another. Sundiata who has been referred as the son of the Buffalo, the son of the lion, Mari-Djata, Sogolan Djata and by many ...

Throughout the history of literature, plot lines have often centered around the destiny of the main characters. Perhaps because we wonder about our own destinies, when we pick up a book or sit down to watch a movie or play, one of our primary concerns is the outcome for the people involved in the narrative – particularly if we have developed a degree of emotional connection with the character(s). It is no different in “Sundiata,” in which Sassouma Berete tries to keep her husband, Nare Maghan, from impregnating her; however, he gets her to faint through a trick, and ends up having sex ...