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grubstlodger 's review for:
Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali
by Mamadou Kouyaté
Sundiata is the national myth of Mali, much as Arthur is the subject of the Matter of Britain, Charlemagne the Matter of France and King Gesar the Tibetan myth. One of the fascinating things about these myths are how similar they are.
Sundiata’s birth this a consequence of sorcery and transformation much like King Arthur and Gesar’s. His mother is the ugly woman found in many fairy and folk tales - though in this case she is not evil and doesn’t become beautiful.
Like Gesar, Sundiata spends his youth being a figure of ridicule, because Sundiata can’t walk. Then the time comes and Sundiata gets up, rips a tree from its roots and delivers it to his mother. Also like Gesar (and sort of Arthur) he is exiled, where he wanders and learns the skills needed to rule.
As he returns, he gathers allies and fights off the evil wizard King of the Soso and gains his land. He then has a gathering where he divides his rights and responsibilities, founds a capital and rules in wisdom. Unlike Gesar and Arthur, this version doesn’t have a downfall - he is more like Gilgamesh, another King of legend, who learns how to rule well.
While there are elements of magic, I was surprised how grounded Sundiata is to some of these other myths. Although he does have personal strength and powerful allies, the battle scenes do not focus on metaphor or splendour but have a historical feel to them. They describe terrain, units and strategy so you know exactly how Sundiata uses his resources to gain victory.
One of the big differences, however, was the role of the Griot - although like a bard, is keeper of all records - and does not give out information gladly but jealously guards it. I found that interesting, closer to the original Celtic ideas of bardic tradition and less like todays storytellers.
What Sundiata taught me, is that nations and national myths show us more of our similarities then our differences and I could get caught up with the tale of an ancient Malinka Mansa just as much as I could a modern, European hero.
Sundiata’s birth this a consequence of sorcery and transformation much like King Arthur and Gesar’s. His mother is the ugly woman found in many fairy and folk tales - though in this case she is not evil and doesn’t become beautiful.
Like Gesar, Sundiata spends his youth being a figure of ridicule, because Sundiata can’t walk. Then the time comes and Sundiata gets up, rips a tree from its roots and delivers it to his mother. Also like Gesar (and sort of Arthur) he is exiled, where he wanders and learns the skills needed to rule.
As he returns, he gathers allies and fights off the evil wizard King of the Soso and gains his land. He then has a gathering where he divides his rights and responsibilities, founds a capital and rules in wisdom. Unlike Gesar and Arthur, this version doesn’t have a downfall - he is more like Gilgamesh, another King of legend, who learns how to rule well.
While there are elements of magic, I was surprised how grounded Sundiata is to some of these other myths. Although he does have personal strength and powerful allies, the battle scenes do not focus on metaphor or splendour but have a historical feel to them. They describe terrain, units and strategy so you know exactly how Sundiata uses his resources to gain victory.
One of the big differences, however, was the role of the Griot - although like a bard, is keeper of all records - and does not give out information gladly but jealously guards it. I found that interesting, closer to the original Celtic ideas of bardic tradition and less like todays storytellers.
What Sundiata taught me, is that nations and national myths show us more of our similarities then our differences and I could get caught up with the tale of an ancient Malinka Mansa just as much as I could a modern, European hero.