The Real Lion King — The Epic of SundiataSundiata Keita was a prince of the Mandinka people bo
The Real Lion King — The Epic of SundiataSundiata Keita was a prince of the Mandinka people born around the early 13th century, son of the king Nare Maghann Konate. According to the legend, Sundiata was born crippled, a handicap Sundiata struggled to overcome throughout his childhood. When someone once insulted his mother, it was said that he miraculously stood up and walked over to him, threatening to rearrange his face if he didn’t apologize. Sundiata was raised to be a warrior and a hunter. He was such a great hunter that he was given the title “simbo”, meaning “master of the bush”.When Sundiata’s father died, the throne was inherited by his older brother, who was a weak ruler. Suddenly the Mandinka Kingdom was invaded by an evil warlord and dark sorcerer Suomoaro, who conquered the country, executed Sundiata’s family, and enslaved the Mandinka people. Sundiata was forced to flee, but he pledged that one day he would return and take back his kingdom. Over the next several years, Sundiata would travel across West Africa, visiting every kingdom and tribe along the way. After several years, Sundiata was able to build a union of 16 tribes and a grand army with the purpose of destroying Suomoaro’s reign and retaking the Mandinka kingdom. The forces of Sundiata and Suomoaro fought five legendary battles, the last being the Battle of Kirina in the year 1235. Sundiata and Suomaoro met in personal combat, and Sundiata managed to shoot Suomaoro with an arrow fletched with the feathers of a rooster, the only weapon that Suomaoro was vulnerable to according to the legend. Suomaoro was gravely wounded, but managed to escape into the wilderness never to be seen again. His army quickly disbanded shortly afterwards.Victorious against the evil sorcerer Suomaoro, Sundiata reclaimed the Mandinka throne, taking the title Musa (King of Kings). The coalition he founded would serve as the foundation of the Mali Empire, which dominated West Africa for the next three centuries. -- source link
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