Monthly Archives: December 2018

Week 17: Sundiata

Soumaoro Kante is the king of Sosso, but he is also a sorcerer King. Nobody knows how he got all his power, but he was a powerful king with a powerful army. For he thought high of himself that he even,”He had an immense seven-storey tower built for himself and he lived on the seventh floor in the midst of his fetishes. This is why he was called “The Untouchable King” (pp.38). Soumaoro kept Balla Fasseke, Sundiata’s griot. “In this way war between Sundiata and Soumaro became inevitable”, because Soumaro took Sundiata’s griot and caused harm in Mali. As Soumaoro was considered, “…was the king of kings, the most powerful king in all the lands of the setting sun.”, for he has conquered many lands through calamities and horror.

Sundiata found out that Soumaoro invaded Mali. Sogolon got old and stayed at home. “Son of Sogolon, your hour has come, the words of the old Gnankouman Doua are about to come to pass, for you are the giant who will crush the giant Soumaoro” (pp.45), Sundiata heard this prophecy about how he will end Soumaoro and bring peace to Mali.  After hearing this Sundiata decided to go back to Mali. Sogolon got very sick, “She had a fever and was trembling under the blankets” (pp.46), the next morning Sogolon died. Sundiata told the king of Mema he will return to Mali to claim the kingdom that Soumaoro took.

“If it is foretold that your destiny should be fulfilled in such and such a land, men can do nothing against it” (pp.47), Sundiata’s destiny sooner or later was going to place him in the right track no matter what men do to prevent it. Now that he was a man, “…he had the stateliness of the lion and the strength of the buffalo” (pp.47), he was strong enough to defeat his enemies. As Soumaoro was busy fighting his newphew, he trusted what the soothsayers told him to forestall this calamity by attacking Sundiata…” (pp.48), but this made him to get distracted. Sundiata knew exactly what he wanted to do, “…had already decided on his plan of campaign-to beat Soumaoro, destroy Sosso and return triumphantly to Niani.” (pp50), he wanted to beat Soumaoro and take back Mali. The fight began but, “In the life of every man there comes a moment when doubt settles in and the man questions himself on his own destiny” (pp.53), Sundiata was trying to figure how to kill Soumaoro since he possessed powers beyond understanding.

Soumaoro was injured now. All the villages around favor Sundiata, he recruit soldiers to fight with him against Soumaoro. Sundiata exclaimed, “We will live free because our ancestors lived free. I am going to avenge the indignity that Mali has undergone” (pp.56), Sundiata proclaimed that he was going to fight to bring freedom to Mali.

Sundiata’s sister, Nana Triban, and that his griot, Balla Fasseke were able to escape from Soumaoro. Nana Triban told Sundiata the mystery of Soumaoro’s powers. Everybody there pledged loyalty to Sundiata.

The fight continued in Krina, there Sousama said to Sundiata, “Stop, young man. Henceforth I am the king of Mali…”, but Sundiata replied, “I am coming back, Soumaoro, to recapture my kingdom. If you want peace you will make amends to my allies and return to Sosso where you are the king.” (pp.60). The nephew of Soumaoro came to offer alliance to fight his uncle, for he had stolen his nephew’s wife. “But listen to what your ancestors did, so that you will know what you have to do.” (pp.63), that was the reason that a griot served. Sundiata destroyed Soumaoro’s power and defeated him as Sundiata threw an arrow, “The arrow flew and grazed Soumaoro on the shoulder. The cock’s spur no more than scratched him, but the effect was immediate and Soumaoro felt his powers leave him.” (pp.65). Soumaoro was an ordinary man, powerless.

In a mountain at Kita, there was a, “In the middle of the mountain was a little pool of magic water” (pp.70), where Sundiata submitted himself, thanked the jinn and drank from it. Sundiata became the chosen one of the jinn. Sundiata reigned “all the countries of the savanna. From Ghana in the north to Mali in the south and from Mema in the east to the Fouta in the west…” (pp.72), all the countries respected and recognized Sundiata’s authority.

In Kouroukan Fougan Sundiata was honored and addressed as the peace bringer, “But we owe this peace to one man who, by his courage and valiance, was able to lead our troops to victory.” (pp.74). Sundiata was recognized for his bravery and his courage. Kingdoms acknowledged Sundiata. And since then his word its respected and followed.

In Niani Sundiata, “It was thus that Sundiata thanked God on returning to Mali.” (pp.79). Where he was welcomed. And every year, Sundiata gathered all the kings, “so justice prevailed everywhere” (pp.81), he carried justice and fairness throughout the land. “Sundiata belonged to this group. He was feared, but loved as well. He was the father of Mali and gave the world peace.” (pp.82). Niani became the center of everything.

Meghan Sundiata was a unique king. “He left his mark on Mali for all time and his taboos still guide men in their conduct.” (pp.83). Up to this day men admire Sundiata and guides them to be good people. As for the griots advised, “But never try, wretch, to pierce the mystery which Mali hides from you.” (pp.84). For they exclusively served as, “I took an oath to teach only what is to be taught and to conceal what is to be kept concealed.” (pp.84), people who educate others of the legacy of their ancestors.

WEEK 16: Sundiata

Sogolon was a careful mother and she knew Sassouma will do anything to hurt her children, especially Sundiata. Therefore, she decided to leave Mali with her children and told Sundiata that he will returned when he is a man,”…for it is in Mali that your destiny must be fulfilled.” (pp.27). Seven years have passed and Sundiata grew to be a strong man and intelligent. They lived in a town called Djedeba with the king Mansa Konkon, a great sorcerer. “Fear enters the heart of him who does not know his destiny, whereas Sundiata knew that he was striding towards a great destiny. He did not know what fear was.” (pp.29). In a foreign town Sundiata did not felt fear, he did not fear the unknown, for he, knows his destiny and his greatness. Once again Sogolon and her family had to look for another home, since Sundiata found out that the queen mother of Niani sent gold to Mansa Konkon to get rid of Sundiata. They were welcomed at Tabon by an old king, instead suggested them to go to Ghana , where he has a friend. “Ghana was a land of Soninke”, which is a tribe related to the Mandingoes, they are Islamized and were very religious. Sogolon asked for asylum with the Cisses of Wagadou. The King Soumaba Cisse decided then to send Sogolon and her children to Mema, to his cousin’s, Tounkara. The children did not want to leave, “The children were sorry to leave Wagadou for they had made many friends, but their destiny lay elsewhere and they had to go away” (pp. 35). They were destined to be someplace else, where Sundiata will grow wiser and stronger to return to Mali. When they arrived at Mema they were amazed that the people there spoke Mandingo. They were greeted by the king’s sister, Massiran. The king was Moussa Tounkara. The king took Sundiata to tours around Mema, for he admired his presence and bravery, “There’s one that’ll make a good king.” (pp.37). After three years the king named Sundiata Kan-Koro-Sigui and Viceroy, “Those who did not love him feared him and his voice carried authority” (pp.37). Some soothsayers of Mema announce “the extraordinary destiny of Djata. It was said that he was the successor of Alexander the Great and that he would be even greater…” (pp.37), the prophets of Mema said that Sundiata’s destiny was exceptional, that he will be more than Alexander the Great. Hence, Sundiata was a man now and was ready to take back his destiny, “…for time had marched on since the exodus from Niani and his destimy was now to be fulfilled” (pp.37). As for Sogolon, she felt a state of comfort for she accomplished to raise the chosen one. Sogolon accomplished her mission and Sundiata was beginning his new path in this world, “She had nurtured the son for whom the world was waiting and she knew that now her mission was accomplished, while that of Djata was about to begin.” (pp.37).

WEEK 15: Sundiata

Sundiata is an African literature, it centers on how Sundiata became king of Mali. Maghan Sundiata, Mari-Djata, Sologon Djata, and Maghan Djata also known as “the son of the Buffalo, the son of the Lion” (pp.2). Sundiata’s mother was Sogolon Kedjou, the buffalo woman’s “wraith”. But Sogolon was not beautiful, in fact she was ugly and has a hunchback. Two hunters came to the village along with Sagolon. They offered her to the king and received a prediction, that his “successor is not yet born” (pp.5) and that “this is the woman you must marry, sire, for she will be the mother of him who will make the name of Mali immortal for ever”  (pp.6). The king of Mali, Maghan Kon Fatta lived in a town known as Nianiba. Sogolon bare a boy who they named Mari Djata. Sundiata was already three and he could not walk, this worried and made unhappy  the king since all the infants at that age walked. The king died, and Dankaran Touman was proclaimed king of Mali. Sundiata was seven and still could not walk, that made Sassouma humiliate Sogolon. Sogolon was cried and hit Sundiata, By this event made Sundiata to have strength and asked for a giant iron bar to be made for him, Sundiata could walk again. Everyone follow him, “But what can one do against destiny? Nothing. Man, under the influence of certain illusions, thinks he can alter the course which God has mapped out, but everything he does falls into a higher order which he barely understands” (pp.22), even if it took time Sundiata was able to walk again and he was going to fulfilled his destiny, as nobody can change that.  Sassouma saw the help of nine witches because she wanted to get rid of Sundiata, since she saw that he was a risk for her son, Dankaran Touman. Sogolon and her children were exile from Mali.