Sundiata: an Epic of Old Mali

“Sundiata: an Epic of Old Mali”: A Character Analysis of Sundiata. Sundiata is an oral epic passed from griot to griot. D.T. Niane’s Sundiata contains many powerful characters. Throughout the story Niane uses the strength and weaknesses of his characters to show the importance of destiny and fate. The character that holds his name to the story, Sundiata, is the son of King Maghan Kon Katta and the “buffalo” woman. Sundiata was prophesized to be a great leader and to save the people of Mali. Sundiata must go through a series of tests and trials, before fulfilling his destiny and taking throne of Mali. Though Sundiata road to greatness he had to deal with overcoming many different obstacles. Such as him being disable until the age of seven. He also had to deal with his father’s spiteful first wife and the Mali people. Although Sundiata is depicted as a weak character in the beginning, he turns out to be strong and determined in the end. Sundiata is a vulnerable, courageous and determined character. Therefore, Sundiata demonstrates the idea that no matter what events take place God’s plan for anyone’s life was going to happen.
Sundiata’s vulnerability encouraged his growth throughout the story. He was set to be the next great king of Mali. Sundiata faced many challenges, “At the age of three he still crawled along on all fours while children of the same age were already walking. He had nothing of the great beauty of his father Nare Maghan. He had a head so big that he seemed unable to support it; he also had large eyes which would open wide whenever anyone entered his mother’s house. He was taciturn and used to spend the whole day just sitting in the middle of the house. Whenever his mother went out he would crawl on all fours to rummage about in the calabashes in search of food, for he was very greedy” (65). This quote shows that Sundiata was very vulnerable from day one. At the age of three Sundiata was still was unable to walk. Everyday he would be harassed by