Sundiata
If you want a taste of West African History Sundiata will give you exactly what you want and more. Sundiata was an interesting piece of literature to read. Unlike the previous two books we have read this semester I found this book much more simple. This book was much easier for me to comprehend and actually get into. This book exposed me not only to the West African history, but also a new religion. The story of Sundiata depicts the story of the foundation of the Mali Empire in West Africa. This story takes place during a transitional time period, when the trade network that linked towns and villages across western Africa attracted north African merchants who brought increasing Muslim influence. The Mali Empire was one of the great West African Empires. The Mali Empire was located along the western grasslands of Africa on the fertile land that lies right below the Sahara desert. The Mali Empire was greatly influenced by Islam due to past ancestors bringing the religion from the Middle East (Spodek, 356). Remaining polytheistic the Mali Empire integrated the religion of Allah into their belief system. Mali's founding king, Sundiata, ruled the Empire of Mali from 1235-1255. “ I am going to tell you of Sundiata, the father of the Bright Country, of the savanna land, the ancestor of those who draw the bow, the master of a hundred vanquished kings” (Sundiata, 2). Sundiata was known as a great hunter and warrior possessed of great magical powers. Although he himself observed African religious practices along with Islam, he encouraged his people to accept Islam (Spodek, 355). Islam plays an important role in this epic because it is the universal religion that is evident during the ninth century AD in Western Africa. In the epic of Sundiata, his family lineage is traced back to an individual named Bilali who was one of the original followers of Muhammed, the founder of Islam (Sundiata, 2). The indication of religion is in the chapter, The First Kings of Mali.