What kind of leader is Sundiata?

Sundiata (Sunjata) Keita was a West African political leader who would become the founder and first ruler of the Mali Empire in medieval West Africa. He founded the empire circa 1235 CE and ruled until his death in circa 1255 CE. The Mali empire was prosperous under his rule.

Why is Sundiata an epic?

When a prince of the Keita Dynasty, Sundiata, destroyed the armies of the Soso Kingdom at the Battle of Krina in 1234, he established the supremacy of Mali in the region. The struggle of Sundiata Keita to save his people and found a formidable Malinke empire is the subject of the The Epic of Sundiata.

How is Sundiata a hero?

According to the narrator, among the many qualities that make Sundiata a hero are his physical strength, his virtues, his emotional intelligence, and his ability to form lasting alliances.

What was Sundiata Keita known for?

Sundiata Keita was the first ruler of the Mali Empire in the 13th century C.E. He laid the foundation for a powerful and wealthy African empire and proclaimed the first charter of human rights, the Manden Charter.

Is Sundiata an epic poem?

Sunjata [/sʊnˈdʒɑːtə/] (also referred to as Sundiata or Son-Jara) is an epic poem of the Malinke people that tells the story of the hero Sundiata Keita (died 1255), the founder of the Mali Empire.

Does Sundiata become a king?

At The Battle of Kirina, Sundiata and his allies defeated the Sosso king, and he became the first Emperor of the Mali Empire. He was the first of the Mandinka line of kings to adopt the royal title Mansa (king or emperor in the Mandinka language).

Who ruled after Sundiata?

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 Sundiata’s deep water). His three sons (Mansa Wali Keita, Mansa Ouati Keita and Mansa Khalifa Keita) went on to succeed him as Mansas of the Empire.

Why is Sundiata called The Lion King?

They had started referring to him as the Lion King, because that’s who he really was. His name Sundiata was derived from the words ‘Sogolon’ (from his mother) and ‘Jata’, which means lion. So by adding Mansa to his title, he became their Lion King.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylJVxD7nZ3o