Sunjata: A West African Epic of the Mande Peoples
A pillar of the West African oral tradition for centuries, this epic traces the adventures and achievements of the Mande hero, Sunjata, as he liberates his people from Sumaworo Kanté, the sorcerer king of Soso, and establishes the great medieval empire of Mali. \ David Conrad conveys the strong narrative thrust of the Sunjata epic in his presentation of substantial excerpts from his translation of a performance by Djanka Tassey Condé. Readers approaching the epic for the first time will...
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A pillar of the West African oral tradition for centuries, this epic traces the adventures and achievements of the Mande hero, Sunjata, as he liberates his people from Sumaworo Kanté, the sorcerer king of Soso, and establishes the great medieval empire of Mali. David Conrad conveys the strong narrative thrust of the Sunjata epic in his presentation of substantial excerpts from his translation of a performance by Djanka Tassey Condé. Readers approaching the epic for the first time will appreciate the translation's highly readable, poetic English as well as Conrad's informative Introduction and notes. Scholars will find the familiar heroes and heroines taking on new dimensions, secondary characters gaining increased prominence, and previously unknown figures emerging from obscurity.
Note on the map of the Mande Heartland (map A)Map A : the Mande Heartland and related JamanawMap B : West Africa and area of detail according to oral traditionEpisode 1Blessings, introductions, and prophets of Islam1Episode 2Seven kings of Manden4Episode 3The search for a special wife9Episode 4Two hunters arrive in Manden21Episode 5Do Kamissa the buffalo woman30Episode 6Do Kamissa's revelations39Episode 7Death of the buffalo46Episode 8Sogolon Wulen Conde of Do ni Kiri52Episode 9A new sorceress wife for the Mansa of Konfara59Episode 10The childhood of Ma'an Sunjata74Episode 11Step-brother rivalry and nine sorceresses of Manden78Episode 12Mistaken murder and the question of exile82Episode 13Departure for exile89Episode 14A visit to Soso91Episode 15The birth of Fakoli95Episode 16How Tenenba acquired Fakoli : Sumaworo's quest for the Soso Bala97Episode 17The sacrifice of Kosiya Kante107Episode 18Tenenba and Fakoli visit the sacred sites112Episode 19Sumaworo's tyranny over Manden118Episode 20The expedition to find Sunjata and return him to Manden123Episode 21Kolonkan finds meat for guests from Manden127Episode 22Manden Bori's anger and Kolonkan's curse129Episode 23Sogolon bestows the legacy of Maghan Konfara131Episode 24The burial of Sogolon and departure from Nema140Episode 25The return of Sunjata146Episode 26Conde pride and descent from Adama149Episode 27Fakoli reveals his power153Episode 28Fakoli explains his dilemma and takes his leave from Manden156Episode 29Fakoli finds trouble in Soso158Episode 30A visit to Kamanjan in Sibi169Episode 31A strategic alliance : Kolonkan's marriage173Episode 32The battle of Negeboriya175Episode 33Trading insults and swearing oaths177Episode 34The battle of Dakajalan and Fakoli's revenge183Episode 35The campaign against Jolofin Mansa187
