Preview

Sundiata

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
618 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Sundiata
Sundiata
The term Polygamy (literally much marriage in Greek) is used in related ways in social anthropology and sociobiology. In social anthropology, polygamy is the practice of marriage to more than one spouse simultaneously (as opposed to monogamy where each person has only one spouse at a time). Like monogamy, the term is often used in a de facto sense, applying regardless of whether the relationships are recognized by the state. In sociobiology, polygamy is used in a broad sense to mean any form of multiple mating. In a narrower sense, used by zoologists, polygamy includes a pair bond, perhaps temporary. In this sense, multiple mating is defined as promiscuous.
In the time of Sundiata polygamy was allowed and very much practiced. Sundiata's father had many wives. He also had eleven children. Sundiata couldn't walk for much of his childhood. Because of this, Sundiata's mother was often teased by the other wives. Both Sundiata and his mother were affected by the teasing. Sundiata's mother cried many times when she was ridiculed by the other women about her son. It seemed as if she was almost ashamed of her own son. Until one day with the help of an iron rod Sundiata walked at the age of seven.
I believe in the old saying "what does not kill you only makes you stronger" What happed to Sundiata early in his childhood, I believe made a Sundiata a stronger man. A man so dominant he overcame may obstacles and became the king of the great empire of Mali. A man that didn't rule the land he conquered with fear, but with reason. When you have as much authority as Sundiata had, it becomes unproblematic for you to do what is best for yourself and not worry about the people he ruled.
The griots of West Africa still tell the 700 year old story of a sickly boy named Sundiata, who grew up to become a great warrior, expelled a brutal warrior, and united the Mandingo people.
Samanguru was a tyrant who ruled the small state of Kaniaga, but he managed to conquer a great

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The Kebra Nagagt and the Epic of Sundiata are powerful and capable of generating pride because both pieces teach a lesson and have strong nationalism for each of their individual development of culture within their own countries. The Epic of Sundiata follows the character of Sundianta. He was crippled and looked down upon by others. After being exiled from Mali, he worked hard to become capable of walking which followed with learning to fight. His recovery from someone who was said to be incapable to someone extremely capable and a good ruler as a representative native of Mali can instill pride with the citizens of the country. The story teaches a good moral as well. Sundiata is shown to be able lead an army and gaining allies to fight against…

    • 364 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The prominent figure I am profiling is Sundiata Keita, born in 1217 CE in Niani, Guinea. Sundiata was the founder of the Mali empire in western Africa, he is still regarded today as the great Magical-king and a national hero. After becoming king, Sundiata would affect many thing’s throughout Mali’s history from it’s geography to it’s science, technology, and culture. Many of these things he affected still have an influence on the country of Mali today. Sundiata’s road to becoming king was a difficult one as he struggled with a disability as a boy.…

    • 551 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    He formed the largest empire in History. Many of his enemies surrendered in fear of his brutal ravages.…

    • 645 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The epic story of Sundiata would take place in the 12th century. How people knew you were king would probably be from how much makeup you had on, to how dressed you were. Royal authority is sacred, paternal, absolute, and it is subject to reason. During this time a king would wear a ton of jewelry to show their prevalence, wealth, and power. Sundiata wasn’t the average joe when talking about kings and natural power. He has super powers, but only uses them to protect and defend against those who were vicious and manipulative or a threat.…

    • 212 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Comparing Sundiata And War

    • 1023 Words
    • 5 Pages

    He locked her up and had his way with her whenever he pleased. This made his nephew very irate and caused him to turn his back on him and go to war against Soumaoro. “Since you are not ashamed to commit incest by taking my wife, I am freed from all ties with you from this day forward. Henceforth I shall be on the side of your enemies.” (Sundiata, 42). This is one reason why people would go to war against each other. Most men are very protective of their women. The idea of another man having his wife or daughter locked up to have his way with her caused…

    • 1023 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In time, with both the influence of technology and a more culturally-accepting generation, this number will only begin to climb. Polyamory is a natural and healthy part of committed relationships. Monogamish relationships are all about finding the best situation for both you and your partner to have your emotional and physical needs fulfilled , and the definition of monogamish may vary from couple to couple. The rapper Pitbull summed it up best “People are stuck on what’s normal, what’s right, what’s wrong. Maybe what’s right to you is wrong to me...What count’s at the end of the day is everybody being happy”…

    • 890 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    vi. Polygamy: heterosexual marriage when individual of one sex marries several people of other sex…

    • 1759 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Essay On Sundiata

    • 585 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Sundiata: An Old Epic of Mali is a verbal tale of the conquest and history of one of Mali’s great rulers- Sundiata, whose mother’s life I argue served as a premonition of how Sundiata’s destiny would play out. Early in the story we learn of the Maghan Kon Fatta and how his greatness as a natural ruler spread superseded his own realm of dominion into the neighboring cities. Sundiata in his own life has always had the blessing of seeing both sides of any situation. In the Sundiata’s parents, he was given the opportunity to help his mother fulfill her life’s mission to raise a king, however only after we learned how earlier on in the story, Sundiata brought shame to his mother, embarrassment so deep that she felt she would never be able to overcome.…

    • 585 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    During his journey with the samanas, he learned to follow many paths that took him away from his self-centered ego. By following and voluntarily suffering through, and eventually overcoming things such as pain, hunger, thirst and fatigue, he was getting closer to what the samanas thought was pure and good. Although he would leave his ego, behind when enduring those scenarios he always came back to his ego, what he and Govinda were working for had only been a lesson in the many teachings and sets of goals they must accomplish to reach the ultimate goal they wanted; redemption (Hesse 14-17).…

    • 1171 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    An example of this is when he escaped from jail and told people he was their emperor.…

    • 133 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Epic Poem Of Sunjata

    • 651 Words
    • 3 Pages

    There was trials that he had to overcome. Everyone was happy for him and impressed with his duties during the exile. They realized that he was powerful and they knew that he was going to overcome any obstacle. He basically built an empire that everyone wanted to join. Even though Sunjata’s brother, Dakaron, wanted to kill him, Sunjata didn’t stop his journey. He was still aiming to get to the top. Sunjata shows that anybody has the ability to be what they want to be. It also shows that there is no such thing as giving up. “Everyone has the stregnth to overcome hard…

    • 651 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Sundiata

    • 1012 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The story of Sundiata depicts the story of the foundation of the Mali Empire in West Africa. This story takes place during a transitional time period, when the trade network that linked towns and villages across western Africa attracted north African merchants who brought increasing Muslim influence. The Mali Empire was one of the great West African Empires.…

    • 1012 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Rama In Sundiata

    • 655 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Due to Sundiata’s powerless legs, he is ridiculed by the people of Mali. But when his mother voices her shamefulness of having bore such a child, Sundiata promises her he will walk and he successfully does so while effortlessly lifting an iron bar. As a result, Sogolon “was now surrounded with much respect” and her son became “as popular as he has been despised” (Niane, 22). Initially, Sogolon was humiliated by Sundiata and saw him as a burden because unlike other children at his age, he was still walking on all four limbs. By proving he could walk normally and demonstrating an immense amount of strength, Sundiata not only ameliorates his family’s reputation, but also proves that he is a…

    • 655 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    life and family

    • 456 Words
    • 2 Pages

    However, in other cultures, such as the Sobtenga people of Burkina Faso, wealthy men practice polygyny, they can marry two or more wives and this is indisputably a norm within that society. Possessing a small number of cattle guarantees the security of the wives and this practice is supposedly more common than polyandry in that society.(Haralambos M & Langley P). Alternatively polyandry is habitual practice amongst the Todas of India and the Marquesan islanders. Two or more men marry one wife to combat the economic hardship of fending for a wife and offsprings .(Browne K.p253). Concentrating on the Zinacantepec community of southern Mexico enhances this argument. They don't focus the concept of the word family only as a parent-child relationship. Instead their basic social unit comprises of complex families, meaning a joint or multiple families related or not related, sharing a single dwelling.(Ponzetti J).…

    • 456 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In this essay, I will be sharing what I have learned about the history of Medieval West Africa from the book Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali. This book may not be one hundred percent true, but some of its history is still worth looking into. Diving deeper into the story shows what Medieval Malian culture was like. Of course, this book is just story telling from one griot (story teller) to the next it still has a lot more to offer because of its historical significance. Malian religion, moral values, their beliefs on destiny are revealed in the book.…

    • 953 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays