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).

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