The Epic of Sundiata

I'm sure some people know this while others don't, but the epic of Sundiata took place in Mali. Mali is a modern country formed around a rather remarkable region in West Africa where ancient and mythic kingdoms rose and fell for a thousand years and beyond. Many people have heard of Wagadu, though you've likely heard it refered to as Ghana. The Ghana was actually the name of the king of Wagadu. Historians say it was the first of several famous medieval kingdoms in the region. And yet I've read a myth saying it was a mystic city that at least at some point could only be seen every so many years, or after undergoing something of a magical quest. So we are not simply talking about some random kingdom. Mali came after Wagadu, and was run by another set of villages and families, but the empire spanned across the territory of Wagadu to the ocean. Mali was eventually known for the wealth of it's Mansas (kings) as one account says one Mansa tethered his horse to a boulder of gold larger than a man, and another account, speaking of the legendary Mansa Musa says on the king's pilgrimage to Mecca, his caravan's stop in Egpyt left so much gold behind they devalued the currency there for years. Mali supplied gold through trade to the Middle East, Europe, Eastern Europe etc. being the pricinple supplier before the Europeans left and came into Africa and America seeking gold. In the case of the empire of Mali this all began with a remarkable man who would become known as Sundjata, the lion king.

I found a version of the story online and I like it because it speaks to some specifics about Malian spiritual and cultural traditions. I think it is quite informative. There is talk of animal spirit battle, magic shape-shifting woman, quests, intrigue etc. The hunting experiences they speak about in the story are similar to things hunters still talk about to this day. The link is below, enjoy the story

Sundjata, The Lion King of Mali