Sundiata Summary Sparknotes

In the story, “ Sundiata,” by D.T. Niane, the writer gives the readers a story that gives off a theme of destiny because of the prophecy that is followed by Sundiata. Nare Maghan was shocked about the prophecy of Sundiata and thought,” Could it be that the stiff jointed son of Sogolon was the one the hunter soothsayer had foretold?” (Niane, 3) Sundiata was a boy who never walked and when a soothsayer told Sundiata’s father Nare Maghan that his son would become the right hand of the King, he was shocked. He didn’t believe that a son who never walked would become a King. Nare Maghan visited a blind old blacksmith named Nounfairi, the old man said,” When the seed germinates growth is not always easy; great trees grow slowly but they plunge their
roots deep into the ground” (Niane, 3). Nounfairi is wise when he said this, people are impatient, so when he said this he meant Sundiata will grow and walk and become great. It takes time to become great, it doesn’t happen within seconds, so Sundiata will grow slowly but will be great with time. One day Sundiata grabbed hold of an iron bar and,” In great effort he straightened himself up and was on his feet at one go- but the great bar of iron was twisted and had taken the form of a bow” (Niane, 7). Sundiata had become great and strong with time and very slowly, but he still was able to have the strength to try to walk and stand tall. In the end Sundiata had said,” Room, room, make room! The lion has walked/ Hide antelopes/Get out of his way!”(Niane, 8) meaning that he is the lion who’s strong and the antelopes are the weak. In conclusion, destiny had taken it’s place in the story of Sundiata by Sundiata becoming strong at the end and following the prophecy that he will become King.