Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali"The son of Sogolon, the hunchback princess, and Maghan, known as 'the handsome', Sundiata grew up to fulfil the prophesies of the soothsayers that he would unite the twelve kingdoms of Mali into one of the most powerful empires ever known in Africa, which at its peak stretched right across the savanna belt from the shores of the Atlantic to the dusty walls of Timbuktu." "Retold by generations of 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 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." "This Revised Edition contains additional material to help the reader better understand the context in which this popular story is set, including: background information, material on oral tradition, pronunciation and spelling, and a who's who of characters/glossary of places."--BOOK JACKET. |
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Common terms and phrases
African ancestors army balafon Balla Fasséké baobab leaves battle brother buffalo called cavalry child Cissé Dankaran Touman destiny Diaghan diata Dioma Djeli empire Fakoli Koroma father Fran Kamara Ghana Gnankouman Doua gnougou griot hunter inhabitants jinn Ka-ba Kalabi Kamandjan Kangaba Keitas king of Ghana king of Mali king of Sibi king of Sosso king of Tabon king's kingdom Kita Kolonkan Kondé Koulikoro Kouyaté Krina land Maghan Kon Fatta Maghan Sundiata Malinke Manding Bory Mandingo Mansa Mari Djata master Mema mountain Moussa Muslim Namandjé Nana Triban Naré Maghan Niane Niani Nianiba Niger night old Mali palace princes queen mother river royal salute Sankarani River Sassouma Bérété Siguiri silk-cotton tree Simbon smiths sofas Sogolon Djata Sogolon Kedjou soothsayers sorcerer Sosso Balla Soumaoro Kanté spear sword Tabon Wana tam-tams took Tounkara town tradition Traoré tribe village Wagadou wife woman words young