Sundiata An Epic Of Old Mama Analysis

The story Sundiata An Epic of Old Mali by D.T. Niane tells the story of Mari (Sogolon) Djata,also known as Sundiata. Around 1,000 years ago a warrior named Sumanguru took control of thearea around Mali in West Africa and oppressed its people. Sundiata arose to become a hero tounite the people and defeat Sumanguru, ushering a period of peace. His achievements werecelebrated for centuries by West African historians known as griots. Mamadou Kouyatecontinued this tradition, the scholar D.T. Niane wrote an account of Sundiata based on Kouyate'sretelling of this interesting story.The overall theme for the story seems to be don't judge a book by its cover or don'tunderestimate people. I say this for many reasons one being throughout the story Sogolon and hisfamily were mocked and shamed because Sogolon couldn't walk, but by the end of the story hewalks and is very strong. …show more content…
Shebanished Sogolon and her son to the back yard of the palace." Another example is on page 1104where Sogolon uses an iron rod to stand. "Standing in the position of a soldier at ease, SogolonDjata, supported by his enormous rod, was sweating great beads of sweat."The setting is many years ago in West Africa Mali. There are many metaphors in this story, forexample when Nare goes to the house of the seer Nounfairi they talk about a tree growing from asmall seed, but they are talking about Sogolon. "When the seed germinates growth is not alwayseasy: great trees grow slowly but they plunge their roots deep into the ground."