Chapter Summary: The Epic Of Old Mali

An Epic of Old Mali This book talks about the old king Sundiata, “the father of the bright country, of the savanna land.” This epic has come from the 13th century! It speaks of a lot during this time but the main focus is the ancient king of Mali, Sogolon Djata, known as Sundiata. Sundiata created the Mali Empire. It starts off telling the story of Sundiata’s father, Maghan Kon Fatta, the king of the city Niani. He was told, by a hunter, that he will produce a powerful ruler by marrying an ugly woman. Later, two hunters bring a lady called Sogolon they received from saving a kingdom from a monstrous buffalo. She was the ugliest servant they had. So Maghan took her and removed the spirit within her and conceived Sundiata. Sundiata faces
For several years they travel from town to town until they come upon the king of Mema, Moussa Tounkara. This king helped raise Sundiata and grooms him to be his heir. He teaches him a lot of ways of war and different strategies. Sundiata also hears stories of the evil sorcerer, King Soumaoro Kante, who is conquering cities of Mali through his own cruelty. Shortly after learning of the evil sorcerer king Niani falls to him people are sent to Ghana in search of Sundiata to ask him to claim his thrown as ruler. So he claims his thrown and even though this upsets Moussa Tounkara, he supports him completely and gives him first of his subservient armies. Sundiata then travels to the cities that he had visited after he was kicked out, slowly but surely he was building up his army. Finally the day had come when he and his armies had met Soumaoro and the great battle started. Although Sundiata is winning the battle, he cannot harm Soumaoro because he has magical protections. Sundiata then turns to magic to help and creates a magical arrow that just nicks the sorcerer and he loses all his magical powers. Soumaoro then retreats and