Through The Sundiata Summary

According to a famous scholar called Amadou Hampate Ba, he asserts his opinion on the fact that one cannot fully grasp the ways that Africans interpret and connect with the past without the knowledge and spread of oral tradition. So Ba is essentially saying that oral stories or “tradition” is necessary in the African society during the 14th century in order of passing information down from generation to generation. This can be proven through the primary source given called the Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali by D.T Niane. In this folklore it depicts an African society and how oral tradition played a key role in their lives during the 14th century. This oral story shows the trials and tribulations of Sundiata and how he became the King of the Malinke people. This oral story helped give an idea of how the Malinke people carried themselves and also their values and morals. Agreeing with
Griots are people that dedicated their time to travel around to different areas to orally tell stories, which helped, spread Africa’s tradition. It can be referenced throughout the story in which Griots play a key role in influencing the next steps in the lives of important people such as the King. Kings were known to request Griots to tell them orally their adventures and their experiences in other cities and areas to gain more knowledge about their land. Since Africa was so large this was an easier way to learn about other cities and what is currently going on, but since Griots travel so far and so much to tell their oral tales they were highly valued in the traditional African Society to spread their traveling tales. This was key in helping shape the political aspect of Africa’s history in regards to educating the kings and in a sense keeping them posted on the actions of others through oral