Sundiata Keita (IPA (Mandinka, Malinke, Bambara): [sʊndʒæta keɪta]) (c. 1217 – c. 1255[5]) was the founder of the Mali Empire and celebrated as a hero of the Mandinka people in the semi-historical Epic of Sundiata, which is primarily known through oral tradition, transmitted by generations of Mandinka griots (djeli or jeliw).[6] The famous Malian ruler Mansa Musa was his grandnephew.[7] Sundiata Keita (IPA (Mandinka, Malinke, Bambara): [sʊndʒæta keɪta]) (c. 1217 – c. 1255[5]) was the founder of the Mali Empire and celebrated as a hero of the Mandinka people in the semi-historical Epic of Sundiata, which is primarily known through oral tradition, transmitted by generations of Mandinka griots (djeli or jeliw).[6] The famous Malian ruler Mansa Musa was his grandnephew.[7] Delafosse previously proposed that, Soumaoro Kantés grandfather with the help of his army and the Sosso nobility of Kaniaga captured what was left of the sacked Ghana Empire, and by 1180, Diara Kanté (var: Jara Kante), Soumaoros father gained control of Koumbi Saleh, dethroned a Muslim dynasty and continued the Diarisso Dynasty (varition: Jariso or Jarisso) whose son (Soumaoro) went on to succeed him and launched an offensive against the Mandinkas.[20][21] Delafosses original work have been refuted and discarded by many scholars including Monteil, Cornevin, etc. There was no Diara Kanté in the oral sources. That was an addition by Delafosee which was contrary to the original sources.[22] The consensus is, in c. 1235, Sundiata who had survived one of Soumaoros earlier raids went to war with the help of his allies against King Soumaoro of Sosso. Although a valiant warrior, Soumaoro was defeated at The Battle of Kirina (c. 1235).[23] Soumaoro is regarded as one of the true champions of the Traditional African religion. According to Fyle, Soumaoro was the inventor of the balafon and the dan (a four-string guitar used by the hunters and griots).[24] After his victory at Kirina, Sundiata took control of the former conquered states of the Sosso and appropriated privileges among those who participated in the defeat of Soumaoro. The former allies of Soumaoro were also later defeated, in particular the king of Jolof. Serer oral tradition speaks of a Serer king of Jolof, involved in the occult (just as Soumaoro), who was later defeated by Tiramakhan Traore (one of the generals of Sundiata) after Sundiata sent his men to buy horses in Jolof. It is reported that, when Sundiata sent his men to Jolof to buy horses in a caravan loaded with gold, the king of Jolof took all the gold and horses - known among some as the rubbery of the horses. In a revenge attack, Sundiata sent his general to Jolof to assassinate the king.[25] It is believed that, it was probably this king of Jolof (known as Mansa Jolofing or Jolofing Mansa) who sided with Soumaoro at The Battle of Kirina[26] and possibly belongs to the Ngom Dynasty of Jolof, the predecessors of the Diaw and Ndiaye Dynasties of Jolof.[27] At present, little is known about the Ngom Dynasty of Jolof. Niane has advanced the claim that, the Jolofing Mansa sided with Sumaguru [or Soumaoro] because like him, he was hostile to Islam. He went on to state that: He [the King of Jolof] confiscated Diatas [Sundiatas] horses and sent him a skin, saying that he should make shoes out of it since he was neither a hunter nor a king worthy to mount a horse.[28] Religion[edit] Niane alludes to Sundiata being a Muslim. According to Fage, there is nothing in the original epos that supports the claim. Sundiata is regarded as a great hunter and magician whose subjects predominantly adhered to traditional beliefs and so did Sundiata, in order to gain their favors.[29][30][31] Others claim that Sundiata was a Muslim with syncretism practices.[32][33] Sundiata Keitas son, adopted sons and brother all had Muslim names, suggesting that he was at least a nominal Muslim, who may have complied with followers of the traditional religion to gain their favor and loyalty. However, many of Sundiatas successors, including his son Uli I of Mali, were Muslims, Mansa Musa being one of the most celebrated.[34] In the epic of Sundiata, Sundiata claims “an ancestral origin among the companions of Muhammad in Mecca” and speaks of himself as a successor to Dhu al-Qarnayn, the Quranic name for Alexander the Great.[35] In exile, Sundiata learns about Islam when he travels to the city of the Cissés, and returns wearing Muslim robes. It is mentioned that there was “only one mosque” in Niani,[36] Sundiata’s hometown, but we can also see the invocation of “Allah Almighty” by Sundiata’s mother,[37] indicating that Islamic terms, at least, were known. Although it is unknown whether Sundiata was actually Muslim, it is clear that the epic of Sundiata was affected by what Ralph Austen calls “Islamicate” culture—that is, the integration of Islamic and Arab culture by inhabitants of the region, whether they are Muslim or not.[35] Imperial Mali[edit] After his victory at Kirina, Mansa Sundiata established his capital at Niani, near the present-day Malian border with Guinea.[39] Assisted by his generals, Tiramakhan being one of the most prominent, he went on to conquer other states. The lands of the old Ghana Empire were conquered. The king of Jolof was defeated by Tiramakhan and his kingdom reduced to a vassal state. After defeating the former ally of Soumaoro, Tiramakhan ventured deep into present-day Senegal, the Gambia and Guinea Bissau and conquered them. Tiramakhan was responsible for the conquest of the Senegambia.[40] In Kaabu (part of present-day Guinea Bissau), he defeated the last great Bainuk king (King Kikikor) and annexed his state. The great Kikikor was killed and his kingdom was renamed Kaabu.[41][42] Sundiata was responsible for the conquest of Diafunu and Kita.[40] Although the conquered states were answerable to the Mansa (king of kings) of Mali, Sundiata was not an absolute monarch despite what the title implies. Though he probably wielded popular authority, the Mali Empire was reportedly run like a federation with each tribe having a chief representative at the court.[43] The first tribes were Mandinka clans of Traore, Kamara, Koroma, Konde (or Conde), and of course Keita. The Great Gbara Assembly was in charge of checking the Mansas power, enforcing his edicts among their people, and selecting the successor (usually the Mansas son, brother or sisters son).[44] The Empire flourished from the 13th to the late 14th century[6] but began to decline as some vassal states throw away the yoke of Mali and regained their independence. Some of these former vassals went on to form empires of their own.[45] Death[edit] Mansa Sundiata Keita died in c. 1255. This is generally the accepted year of death.[31][46] There is however very little information regarding his cause of death. Not only are there different versions, mainly modern, but Mandinka tradition forbids disclosing the burial ground of their great kings.[47][48] According to some, he died of drowning while trying to cross the Sankarani River, near Niani.[47][49] If one is to believe Delafosse, he was accidentally killed by an arrow during a ceremony.[50] Others have maintained that, he was assassinated at a public demonstration.[49] At present, the generally accepted cause of death is drowning in the Sankarani River, where a shrine that bears his name still remains today (Sundiata-dun meaning Sundiatas deap water).[47] His three sons (Mansa Wali Keita, Mansa Ouati Keita and Mansa Khalifa Keita) went on to succeed him as Mansas of the Empire. The famous West African and ostentatious[51] ruler Mansa Musa was his grandnephew.[7] Legacy[edit] Further information: Gbara and Kouroukan Fouga A strong army was a major contributor to the success of Imperial Mali during the reign of Mansa Sundiata Keita.[40] Credit to Malis conquests cannot all be attributed to Sundiata Keita but equally shared among his generals, and in this, Tiramakhan Traore stood out as one of the elite generals and warlords of Sundiatas Imperial Mali.[40] However, in a wider perspective of 13th century West African military history, Sundiata stood out as a great leader and a valiant warrior who was able to command the loyalties of his generals and army.[40][52] It was during his reign that Mali first began to gain fame and notoriety as well as economic strength, a strength that his successors such as Mansa Musa improved on thanks to the ground work set by Sundiata, who controlled the regions trade routes and gold fields.[39] The social and political constitution of Mali were first codified during the reign of Mansa Sundiata Keita. Known as the Gbara and the Kouroukan Fouga, although not written and subject to alterations when they were first recorded in written form, they were part of the social and political norms of Mali. Many of these laws have been incorporated into the constitution of modern-day Mali.[43] By unifying the military force of 12 states, Sundiata becomes an emperor known as the Lion King of Mali, who controls tribes from the Niger River west to the Atlantic Ocean. Walt Disney Studios reprised the story of Sunditata in 1994 as an animated film, The Lion King, with animals substituting for the humans of Mali legend. Ellen Snodgrass,[53] Sundiata Keita was not merely a conqueror who was able to rule over a large empire with different tribes and languages, but also developed Malis mechanisms for agriculture, and is reported to have introduced cotton and weaving in Mali.[54] Towards the end of his reign, absolute security is reported to have prevailed throughtout his dominion.[54] From a global perspective, the Epic of Sundiata and the Mali Empire is taught in many schools, colleges and universities, not just in West Africa but in many parts of the World.[12][55][8] Some scholars such as Ellen Snodgrass, and others have observed similarities with the 13th-century Epic of Sundiata to Walt Disneys 1994 animated film, The Lion King (the inspiration behind the The Lion Kings franchises such as Lion King, the musical, etc.).[53] Disney has maintained that the film was inspired by William Shakespeares Hamlet.[56]
Posted on: Fri, 04 Apr 2014 12:46:50 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015