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Sundiata & Keita
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This paper provides a discussion of various elements in the Mali epic Sundiata and ...... More...
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Paper Abstract:
This paper provides a discussion of various elements in the Mali epic Sundiata and the film about modern day Western African heritage Keita. Aspects of myth, epic, the role of the griot (poet) in Mali culture, and others in each work are compared and contrasted.
Paper Introduction:
Sundiata Keita Introduction The oral history that tells of the rise of the Malian King Sundiata Sundiata An Epic of Old Mali is considered an epic in literary criticismterms According to Foley distinctions of myth and epic aredifficult to make concrete but the word myth can be taken to refergenerally in relation to epic to the background of traditional oralstorytelling from which epic derives p In contrast to myth epictypically focuses on a hero and the origination of a people culture orkingdom
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In Keita, they are critical forillustrating the cautionary tale of the loss of culture in the wake ofincreasing globalization (i.e. We are left wondering what kind of success and success from whichculture's or forces' perspective. (1995). Without a griot - personal story-teller or poet - a heroic leaderwould have no historical legacy or record. The griot informs us that a hero mustendure many "tests," and must have certain qualities like "compassion," astrong "character," and the ability to withstand both hostility and teasing(Niane, 1995). This is true in terms of theirtreatment by family, since fathers traditionally passed this tradition onto their sons. However, he must struggle through a difficult childhood andearly adulthood to fulfill this prophecy. First, thework serves as a history of the heroic rise of Sundiata, the leader of theMalian Empire. Effectively,Sumanguru has taken away the ability to know the story of the king Sundiataby separating his griot from him. However, in the exchange with the teacher and in the views ofMabo's mother, we see the griot does not generate the same kind ofreverence or respect the griot received in ancient times. Second, it also illustrates the qualities that made thehistorical leader a reflection of the values most cherished by Malianculture. As such, the griot in Keita stands as asymbol of trying to retain cultural and ethnic heritage an identity throughoral stories and lineage in the face of encroaching globalization and theattempt to homogenize and westernize culture and values. Homogenizing culture and identity in thename of broader commercial markets is one byproduct of the spread ofglobalization. (1994). We see in one scene the debate between griot and a contemporaryteacher on knowledge shows that the teacher does not even know the meaningsof his students African names. As Sundiata tells Sumanguru:"Brother, you have taken away Balla Fesseke. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing.Kouyate, D. The role of the griot in both Sundiata and Keita is a significantone. From exile to engaging in combatwith Sumanguru, courage and strength and the ability to endure are threequalities that make Sundiata heroic. In the film Keita, we see that the griot do not garner the samerespect in contemporary African society that is being rapidly changed andchallenged in an age of impersonalize globalization. Sundiata: An epic of old Mali. It is also true in terms of respect from members of theroyal court. (2 5). Mabo's journey todiscover the real meaning of his name is a symbol of how important it isfor the griot to be able to help individuals understand their essence oridentity. In the film Keita, the griot plays asignificant role in chronicling the identity and ethnicity of the WestAfricans in the face of encroaching westernization from globalization.Mabo Keita is informed by a griot name Djeliba that his lineage isdescended from Sundiata, the Malian Emperor in ancient times. In Sundiata, the griot BallaFesseke is instrumental in not only chronicling Sundiata's heroic rise andthe founding of empire but also serves a significant role in helpingSundiata defeat Sumanguru. According to Foley (2 5), distinctions of myth and epic aredifficult to make concrete but the word "myth can be taken to refergenerally, in relation to epic, to the background of traditional oralstorytelling from which epic derives" (p. 31). Keita: The heritage of the Griot, (Film).Niane, D.T. Mabo isfascinated and abandons the western-style education his mother wants, buthis father encourages him to continue with the tradition of oral heritageand the griot. Body Sundiata is an epic hero because of a number of reasons. Yet the teacher is supposed to help hisstudents experience "success" by imparting "knowledge to them (Kouyate,1994). But I will return" (Niane, 1995, p. The griot plays a significant role in telling the tale of Sundiata,serving as his mentor and his chronicler, a tradition shared betweenfathers and sons for generations. In contrast to myth, epictypically focuses on a hero and the origination of a people, culture orkingdom, such as Sundiata's heroic rise in the epic and his uniting of thetribal states of Mali into an empire. He is not your griot and hewill always be mine! We see that Sundiata is prophesied to become the leader of a unitedMalian empire. In Sundiata and Keita we also see that the griot is treated somewhatdifferently by society in each era. Unlike myth which does not have actual historical origins, epicdoes. When Sumanguru forces Balla Fesseke away from Sundiata, heand his younger brother are outraged. Since you do not want us here, we shall leave Maliand go far away. In this sense, the filmmaker seems to promote anethnocentric education as the only means of preserving cultural heritage.Traditionally, for Africans, it is the griot or oral history and heritagepassed down from one generation to the next that served this role. 87443 Sundiata & Keita Introduction The oral history that tells of the rise of the Malian King Sundiata,Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali, is considered an epic in literary criticismterms. This is exactlythat role the griot plays in Sundiata, since it is his efforts that notonly keep the heroic tale of Sundiata and the Malian Empire alive but alsohelp unite and save the kingdom and its culture. In ancient times the griot were royalpoets and were highly respected in Mali. A Companion to Ancient Epic. Mabo's mother has little respect or hope for the ways of thegriot, and insists Mabo's best chance for success is to gain a Westerneducation. As we are told at the outset,Sundiata "was great among kinds, he was peerless among men; he was belovedof God because he was the last of the great conquerors" (Niane, 1995, p.2). Without knowledge of thepast through the griot, Africans are in jeopardy of losing their sense ofidentity and heritage. Longman Publishing. Sundiata is heroic because he has these qualities andendures his tests with strength and compassion. Conclusion In conclusion, we see that in both Sundiata and Keita the elementsof epic, the heroic, the role of the griot, oral tradition and heritage allmerge into a portrait of culture, values and identity for Africans. Instead ofsupport for the wisdom and ways of the griot that Sundiata received fromboth his mother and father, the griot in Keita creates a conflict in Mabo'shousehold that pits his father and mother against each other in their viewson education. In Sundiata, they are critical to uniting thewarring tribal-states into an empire and recording the epic story of thefounding of the Malian Empire. M. 34). In contrast, the griot tells Mabo, "It's an old world and thefuture emerges from the past" (Kouyate, 1994). Many refer to the griot as "old man" in the film, but heenlightens Mabo and helps him forge a stronger bond with his heritage andcultural identity (Kouyate, 1994). westernization).ReferencesFoley, J. This analysis will discuss the roleof the griot in the epic of Sundiata compared to their role in the filmKeita: The Heritage of the Griot (1995). The dilemma faced by Mabo Keita is the dilemma faced by many modernWest Africans, whether to assimilate through a Western education or focuson oral heritage and ethnicity to maintain a sense of African identity.This reveals issues related to who produces knowledge and who manufacturesit? Inboth cases, we also see these elements are critical to preserving culture,heritage and identity.
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