Synopses & Reviews
This is a revision of Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali, a best seller for 30 years.
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.
This Revised Edition includes background information which provides a geographical, religious, social, and political context for the story. A whos who of characters and a glossary of places will enhance the readers experience.
Synopsis
Retold by generations of griots-the guardians of African culture-this oral tradition has been handed down from thirteenth century and captures all the mystery and majesty of medieval African kingship. It is an epic tale-part history, part legend-which should rank alongside the 'Iliad' and the 'Odyssey' as one of the world's great adventure stories.
About the Author
Born in Guinea, author and playwright Djibril Tamsir Niane is a descendant of griots African oral historians/storytellers. He translated Sundiata, as told by the griot Djeli Mamadou Kouyate, into French under the title Soundjata ou Epoque Mandiginue in 1960. It was later translated into English by G. D. Pickett in 1965.
Table of Contents
MapIntroduction to the Revised Edition
Background Information
Geography
Religion
Society
Politics
Oral Tradition, Pronunciation and Spelling
Who's Who of Characters/Glossary of Places
Preface
The Story of Sundiata
The Words of the Griot Mamadou Kouyatç
The First Kings of Mali
The Buffalo Woman
The Lion Child
Childhood
The Lions Awakening
Exile
Soumaoro Kantç: The Sorcerer King
History
The Baobab Leaves
The Return
The Names of the Heroes
Nana Triban and Balla Fassçkç
Krina
The Empire
Kouroukan Fougan or The Division of the World
Niani
Eternal Mali
Authors Notes