Epic of Sundiata

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The Epic of Sundiata (; Manding languages: ߛߏ߲߬ߖߘߊ߬ Sònjàdà, also referred to as Sundiata or Son-Jara; Arabic: ملحمة سوندياتا; French: L'épopée de Soundjata) is an epic poem of the Malinke people that tells the story of Sundiata Keita, the founder of the Mali Empire in West Africa, who ruled from 1235 C.E. until his death in 1255 C.E. It details how Sundiata established the empire through strategic alliances and exceptional skill, and is structured as a Hero's journey. The epic is a foundational to Mandé culture and has been narrated for generations by Griots through oral tradition. The epic is set in 13th century Mali and explores themes such as destiny, kinship, betrayal, resilience, and leadership. While there is no single authoritative version, fundamental components of the epic largely remain the same. Versions of the epic first began to be "systematically" collected by European scholars, largely French or German, during the late 19th century in the colonized "French Sudan". Notable...

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