Sundiata Characteristics

Ibn Battuta has idiosyncrasies, prejudices, and arrogance. He is also a man of curiosity, and conviction. It is because Ibn Battuta represents or comes across so much like ourselves that it is easy to dive more deeply into his writing and stories and see things through his eyes. What the reader can see is a picture of African civilization before European influence. Battuta’s stories

modern culture we are used to the stereotypical, sympathetic hero; the Batmans and Supermans who lose their parents in tragic circumstances and devote their lives to vanquishing evil. That however, is not the way heroes have always been portrayed. When we look at The Epic of Gilgamesh we see the archetype of every hero since, however, we are not overcome with a desire to see Gilgamesh succeed. On the hand, if we fast forward two thousand years and look at a hero from Africa named Sundiata who is very similar to Gilgamesh in many aspects, we do have desire for Sundiata’s success. Why do we root for one hero while casting away the other? It has to do with the way perceive that hero and their values as well as how we perceive the conditions each hero is faced with. If we can picture Sundiata as the evolution of Gilgamesh we see the differences and similarities between the two as culture moves toward embracing the sympathetic hero.

There are many mythological stories that relate and interact with one an another dealing with their specific lifestyles, beliefs and problems. The Hercules and Hippolyta myth is considered to be one of the most famous tales dealing the Amazons. Hercules is perhaps, if not, the most well-known myths about being heroic. The ninth task in

Every good story needs a hero to inspire the readers. The hero’s in stories can be relatable with the struggles that they face, providing support and motivation to those in need. The hero stories of Gilgamesh and Perceval accounts tails of the struggle to find oneself, the true meaning of who they are and what they are supposed to become is lost on both of them. Our heroes share many similarities and some differences in their journeys from childhood to manhood. The stories provide information on the hero’ family and childhood, their strengths and weaknesses, their motivations, the trials and moral conflicts that they faced, and how the conclusion to each story share a similar message.

Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali was originally orally told by Djeli Mamoudou Kouyate, who then gave the story to Djibril Tamsir Niane. Djibril was originally born in Guinea and was a descendent of African storytellers. He is also an African historian who got his degree from the University of Bordeaux in France. He taught at the Institutes Polytechnique before he joined the Basic Institute of Black Africa. This book was originally told and written in Mandingo by Djeli, then translated into French by Djibril, and then translated into English by G.D. Pickett. There is nothing known about the translator and author G.D. Pickett.

When I was finished reading both Sundiata and God’s Bits of Wood I had a better understanding of the strong relationship between the African people and their leaders. Even though Sundiata and Ihamim Bakayoko became leaders by different means, they displayed a lot of similarities. Sundiata was a king, so the people had to obey him because of his status. However his subjects did not follow him for that reason, they listened to Sundiata because he was a good leader. As a wise African leader, Sundiata ruled in consultation. Sundiata’s number one consultant was his griot, Balla Fasseke. As D.T. Niane said griots know the history of kings and their kingdoms, which is why they are the best advisors of kings because whoever

Gilgamesh is an ancient Mesopotamian hero, featured in the famous tale of “The Epic of Gilgamesh”, who embarks on a perilous quest for immortality. This idea, “…touches on the most fundamental questions of what it actually means to be human…” (Homer 33), and gives us light into the minds of the people during the era. Gilgamesh’s tale gives us a glimpse at how the people of that day viewed a “hero”, and allows us to reflect upon what we consider a “hero” today. Using the Epic Hero Cycle, I will analyze Gilgamesh’s life and journey and analyze why I feel that he is truly a hero.

When Ibn Battuta visited Mali, he wrote of its people in a positive light. He also admired their characteristics and devotion to the religion of Islam. “They are seldom unjust, and have a greater abhorrence of injustice than any other people” (Ibn Battuta, 1). These are some of the reasons why Ibn Battuta is interested in the qualities that the people in Mali acquire. In brief, Ibn Battuta became fond of the people in Mali, and wrote of them.

It is quite ironic that Malidoma’s name so accurately depicts the life mission to which he so persistently tries to accomplish. Indeed, the magnificence behind Of Water and the Spirit lies in Malidoma’s approach in trying to "befriend a stranger" and educate rather than defame the Western world. The vividness and conviction to which he explains his grandfather’s life and the events in his initiation, which seem whimsical to any Westerner, definitely remind one that Malidoma’s tribe belongs to a world so remarkably different to the West. He also makes it apparent that the Westerner can only learn from his tribe, whose customs are equal in validity to that of the West.

Sundjata Keita was the founded the western Sudanese of Mali, he belonged to the Ketia clan of the Manlike people of the kingdom of Kangaba. His early life is not well know, but oral traditions inform us he was one of the 12 royal brothers to be heirs to the throne of Kangaba. Their Sumanguru ruler killed all his brother expect him because he look sick and appeared to be near death. The archer and equestrian figure were personal and gave great respect to them because they represented ancestors of rulers around the region. The archer is connected to their past friends of the Malian emperor Sundjata Ketia because a fancy dress would mean a ceremonial military attire. The equestrian figure mean in the savanna areas of West Africa, the horses represented military power, to be more specifically a powerful cavalry of invaders who dominated the area with

Some individuals may see a hero as someone who is known for their good deeds and remarkable super powers like the ones that are shown today in films. Even though, this can be true to a certain extent, these qualities are not the only ones that are used to compose the ideal hero. “As society has progressed throughout the years, the characterization of who a hero is has also transformed in terms of the protagonist itself.” (Heroes). During the 1600s, the protagonist was not seen as the hero of the play or poems like shown in William Shakespeare’s tragedy, “Othello” and the epic poem “Paradise Lost” written by John Milton.” Based on both of these literary selections, the heroes can be demonstrated by the villains Iago and Satan who in both the play and epic poem transformed the stereotype of the protagonist always being the hero to be false.

If there are heroes as can indeed be found, there is that central force pushing them. The use concepts of epic conventions allow scholars and students alike to identify the themes, symbols, and overall understanding of the work being examined and studied. In this case, the epic conventions foretell the works to be done through and in the main “hero” of the epic work. There are many conventions that readily represent the ideals wherein Achilles and Aeneas serve as epic heroes. The most crucial notion in epic conventions show the hero’s development is that the hero goes through a series of events of which lead to a moment of fulfilling their education. Here, the hero finds tests of grace, courage, and arts of peace and war will lead them to discovering themselves. However, there is a pattern in these selected conventions of which give proof in the necessity of the

What interested me the most of week two’s reading in Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali by D.T. Niane is the author’s perspective on the importance of a griot. The author is a translator who in his perspective, the griot, teaches more than we know or are told. The griot experienced and heard real historical teachings. In this book, the griot teaches the “wisdom and history” of Africa and its ancestors (pg XXIV). If it was not for the griot who followed Sundiata throughout his life, readers and historians would not know about the struggles Sundiata went through for years to become the hero and founder of the Mali Empire.

Myths contain many legendary heroes within, but what makes them different from an ordinary person? Many conveys that it is not very challenging to be a hero, but wise ones know the struggles of being a hero, which the texts “Theseus” and “The Adventure of Odysseus”, written in the book “Mythology” by Edith Hamilton proves. Heroes may require the help from others, but more often than not, they are fearless fighters who do not need the aid of others to be successful. Heroes might easily gain credits for the work of their fellow allies, but that does not mean it is easy to be a hero. A true hero should not be afraid of pain or death just like the great legend Theseus. At the same time, these heroes must be like the extraordinary hero Odysseus, who was successful in his heroic journey.

The Empire of Mali was one of the largest empires in West African history, spanning from the Atlantic Coast to the central parts of the Sahara Desert. It was historically known as the Manding Empire or the Manden Kurufa. From 1235 to 1600, the Empire of Mali has been described as “the most potent empire of old Africa,” and by looking at the history, prominent people, and various events throughout its existence, show how this empire was able to thrive and earn this title.