SUND

IATA

an ep

ic of

old M

aliD.

T. N

iane

Tran

slated

by G

. D. P

ickett

With

extra

mate

rial b

yDa

vid C

happ

ell, U

nivers

ity of

Haw

aiiJam

es A

Jone

s, W

est C

heste

r Univ

ersity

of Pe

nnsy

lvania

PE ARS

ON

Long

man

Pear

son E

duca

tion L

imite

d,Ed

inbu

rgh G

ate,

Harlo

w,Es

sex C

M20

2JE,

Eng

land

and

Asso

ciated

Com

pani

es th

roug

hout

the w

orld

.

C Pr

dsen

ce A

frica

ine 1

960 (

origi

nal F

renc

h ve

rsion

:So

undj

ata,

ou l E

popo

fe M

andi

ngue

)C

Long

man

Gro

up L

td (E

nglis

h Ve

rsion

) 196

5

All r

ights

rese

rved

. No p

art o

f thi

s pub

licat

ion m

ay b

ere

prod

uced

, sto

red i

n a re

triev

al sy

stem

, or t

rans

mitt

edin

any f

orm

or b

y any

mea

ns, e

lectro

nic,

mec

hani

cal,

phot

ocop

ying,

reco

rdin

g, or

othe

rwise

, with

out

the p

rior w

ritten

per

miss

ion of

the P

ublis

hers

.

Firs

t pub

lishe

d as

Lon

gman

Afri

can

Clas

sic 19

86Fi

rst p

ublis

hed

as L

ongm

an A

frica

n W

riter

s 199

4

Revi

sed

editi

on 20

06IS

BN-1

0: 1-

4058

-494

2-8

ISBN

-13:

978-

1-40

58-4

942-

5

Prin

ted in

Chi

naEP

C/01

Conte

ntsIn

trodu

ction

to th

e Rev

ised E

dition

vii

Back

grou

nd In

form

ation

ixW

ho's W

ho of

Cha

racter

s/Glos

sary o

f Plac

es

xvii

Oral

Trad

ition

, Pro

nunc

iation

and S

pelli

ng

xvPr

eface

xxiii

The W

ords

of th

e Grio

t Mam

adou

Kou

yate

ITh

e Firs

t King

s of M

ali

2Th

e Buf

falo W

oman

4Th

e Lion

Chil

d

12Ch

ildho

od 1

5Th

e Lion

's Aw

aken

ing

18Ex

ile26

Soum

aoro

Kan

te: T

he S

orce

rer K

ing

38Hi

story

40Th

e Bao

bab L

eave

s

43Th

e Retu

rn

47Th

e Nam

es of

the H

eroes

54Na

na T

riban

and B

alla F

asse

ke

56Kr

ina59

The E

mpire

70Ko

urou

kan F

ouga

n or T

he D

ivisio

nof

the W

orld

73Ni

ani

79Et

ernal

Mali

83No

tes85

villa

ge o

f tra

ditio

nists

to ea

ch p

rovi

nce,

thus

: Fad

ama f

or H

aman

apr

ovin

ce (K

ouro

ussa

, Gui

nea)

; Djd

6la (

Dro

ma,

Sigu

iri);

Key

la(R

epub

lic o

f Mali

), etc

.U

nfor

tuna

tely

the W

est h

as ta

ught

us t

o sc

orn

oral

sour

ces i

nm

atte

rs o

f hist

ory,

all t

hat i

s not

writ

ten

in b

lack

and

white

bei

ngco

nsid

ered

with

out f

ound

atio

n. T

hus,

even

amon

g A

frica

n in

tel-

lect

uals,

ther

e ar

e th

ose

who

are

suffi

cien

tly n

arro

w-m

inde

d to

rega

rd `s

peak

ing

docu

men

ts', w

hich

the g

riots

are,

with

disd

ain,

and

to b

elie

ve th

at w

e kn

ow n

othi

ng o

f our

pas

t for

wan

t of

writ

ten

docu

men

ts. T

hese

men

sim

ply

prov

e th

at th

ey d

o no

tkn

ow th

eir c

ount

ry e

xcep

t thr

ough

the

eyes

of W

hite

s.Th

e w

ords

of t

radi

tioni

st gr

iots

dese

rve

anyt

hing

but

scor

n.Th

e grio

t who

occ

upie

s the

chai

r of h

istor

y of

a vi

llage

and

who

bear

s the

title

of `

Bele

n-Ti

gui'

is a

very

resp

ecta

ble

gent

lem

anan

d ha

s tou

red

Mal

i. H

e has

gon

e fro

m v

illag

e to

villa

ge to

hea

rth

e te

achi

ng o

f gre

at m

aste

rs; h

e ha

s lea

rnt t

he a

rt of

hist

oric

alor

ator

y th

roug

h lo

ng y

ears

; he

is, m

oreo

ver,

boun

d by

an

oath

and

does

not

teac

h an

ythi

ng ex

cept

wha

t his

guild

stip

ulat

es, f

or,

say

the

grio

ts, `

All

true

lear

ning

shou

ld b

e a

secr

et.'

Also

the

tradi

tioni

st is

a mas

ter i

n th

e art

of ci

rcum

locu

tion,

he s

peak

s in

arch

aic f

orm

ulas

, or e

lse h

e tur

ns fa

cts i

nto

amus

ing

lege

nds f

orth

e pub

lic, w

hich

lege

nds h

ave,

howe

ver,

a sec

ret s

ense

whi

ch th

evu

lgar

littl

e sus

pect

.M

y ey

es h

ave

only

just

open

ed o

n th

ese

mys

terie

s of e

tern

alA

frica

and

mor

e th

an o

nce,

in m

y th

irst t

o kn

ow, I

hav

e ha

d to

give

up

my

little

cla

im a

s an

arm

chai

r int

elle

ctua

l bef

ore

the

silen

ces o

f tra

ditio

n ju

st as

my

over

-impe

rtine

nt q

uesti

ons w

ere

abou

t to

unco

ver a

mys

tery

.Th

is bo

ok is

, the

n, th

e fru

it of

an in

itial

cont

act w

ith th

e mos

tau

then

tic tr

aditi

onist

s of M

ali.

I am

not

hing

mor

e th

au a

tran

s-la

tor,

I ow

e ev

eryt

hing

to th

e m

aste

rs o

f Fad

ama,

Dje

liba

Kor

oan

d K

eyla

and

mor

e par

ticul

arly

to D

jeli

Mam

oudo

u K

ouya

td o

fth

e vill

age o

f Dje

liba K

oro

(Sig

uiri)

in G

uine

a.M

ay th

is bo

ok o

pen

-the

eyes

of m

ore

than

one

Afri

can

and

indu

ce h

im to

com

e and

sit h

umbl

y be

side t

he an

cien

ts an

d he

arth

e wor

ds o

f the

grio

ts wh

o te

ach

wisd

om an

d hi

story

.D

. T. N

IANE

xxiv

The

Wor

ds o

f the

Grio

tM

amad

ou K

ouya

te

I am

a g

riot.

It is

I, D

jeli

Mam

oudo

u K

ouya

t6, s

on o

f Bin

tou

Kou

yatd

and

Dje

li K

edia

n K

ouya

td, m

aste

r in

the

art o

f elo

-qu

ence

. Sin

ce ti

me i

mm

emor

ial t

he K

ouya

tds h

ave b

een

in th

ese

rvice

of t

he K

eita p

rince

s of M

ali; w

e are

ves

sels

of sp

eech

, we

are t

he re

posit

ories

whi

ch h

arbo

ur se

crets

man

y ce

ntur

ies o

ld. T

hear

t of e

loqu

ence

has

no

secr

ets f

or u

s; w

ithou

t us t

he n

ames

of

king

s wou

ld v

anish

into

obl

ivio

n, w

e are

the m

emor

y of

man

kind

;by

the s

poke

n wor

d we b

ring t

o life

the d

eeds

and e

xplo

its of

king

sfo

r you

nger

gen

erat

ions

.I d

eriv

e my

know

ledge

from

my

fath

er D

jeli K

edian

, who

also

got i

t fro

m h

is fa

ther

; hist

ory

hold

s no

mys

tery

for u

s; w

e tea

chto

the v

ulga

r jus

t as m

uch

as w

e wan

t to

teac

h th

em, f

or it

is w

ewh

o ke

ep th

e key

s to

the t

welv

e doo

rs of

Mali

.'I k

now

the l

ist of

all t

he so

vere

igns

who

succ

eede

d to t

he th

rone

ofM

ali. I

kno

w ho

w th

e blac

k pe

ople

divi

ded

into

trib

es,

form

yfa

ther

beq

ueat

hed

to m

e al

l his

lear

ning

; I k

now

why

such

and

such

is ca

lled

Kam

ara,

anot

her K

eita

, and

yet

anot

her S

ibib

d or

Trao

rd; e

very

nam

e has

a m

eani

ng, a

secr

et im

port.

I tea

ch k

ings

the h

istor

y of

thei

r anc

esto

rs so

that

the l

ives

of

the a

ncien

ts m

ight

serv

e the

m as

an ex

ampl

e, fo

r the

wor

ld is

old

,bu

t the

futu

re sp

rings

from

the p

ast.

My

wor

d is

pure

and

free

of a

ll un

truth

; it i

s the

wor

d of

my

fath

er; i

t is t

he w

ord

of m

y fa

ther

's fa

ther

. I w

ill g

ive

you

my

fath

er's

wor

ds ju

st as

I re

ceiv

ed th

em; r

oyal

grio

ts do

not

kno

ww

hat l

ying

is. W

hen

a qua

rrel b

reak

s out

bet

wee

n tri

bes i

t is w

ew

ho se

ttle

the

diffe

renc

e, fo

r we

are

the

depo

sitar

ies o

f oat

hswh

ich th

e anc

esto

rs sw

ore.

Liste

n to

my

wor

d, y

ou w

ho w

ant t

o kn

ow; b

y m

y m

outh

you

will

lear

n th

e hist

ory

of M

ali.

By m

y m

outh

you

will

get

to k

now

the s

tory

of t

he an

cesto

r of

grea

t Mali

, the

stor

y of

him

who

, by

his e

xplo

its, s

urpa

ssed

even

1

Ale

xand

er th

e Gre

at; h

e who

, fro

m th

e Eas

t, sh

ed h

is ra

ys u

pon

all th

e cou

ntrie

s of t

he W

est.

List

en to

the

stor

y of

the

son

of th

e Bu

ffal

o, th

e so

n of

the

Lion

.' I am

goi

ng to

tell

you

of M

agha

n Su

ndia

ta, o

f Mar

i-Dja

ta,

of S

ogol

on D

jata,

of N

ard

Mag

han

Djata

; the

man

of m

any

nam

esag

ainst

whom

sorc

ery

coul

d av

ail n

othi

ng.

The F

irst K

ings o

f Mali

Liste

n th

en, s

ons o

f Mal

i, ch

ildre

n of

the b

lack

peo

ple,

liste

n to

my

word

, for

I am

goi

ng to

tell

you

of S

undi

ata,

the f

athe

r of t

heBr

ight

Cou

ntry

, of t

he sa

vann

a la

nd, t

he a

nces

tor o

f tho

se w

hodr

aw th

e bow

, the

mas

ter o

f a h

undr

ed v

anqu

ished

kin

gs.

I am

goi

ng to

talk

of S

undi

ata,

Man

ding

Dia

ra, L

ion

of M

ali,

Sogo

lon

Dja

ta, s

on o

f Sog

olon

, Nar

e Mag

han

Dja

ta, s

on o

f Nar

6M

agha

n, S

ogo

Sogo

Sim

bon

Salab

a, he

ro o

f man

y na

mes

.I a

m g

oing

to te

ll yo

u of

Sun

diat

a, h

e w

hose

exp

loits

will

asto

nish

men

for a

long

tim

e yet

. He w

as g

reat

amon

g ki

ngs,

hewa

s pee

rless

amon

g m

en; h

e was

belo

ved

of G

od b

ecau

se h

e was

the l

ast o

f the

gre

at co

nque

rors

.Ri

ght a

t the

beg

inni

ng th

en, M

ali w

as a

prov

ince

of t

he B

am-

bara

kin

gs; t

hose

who

are t

oday

calle

d M

andi

ngo,

$ in

habi

tant

s of

Mal

i, ar

e no

t ind

igen

ous;

they

com

e fro

m th

e Ea

st. B

ilali

Bou-

nam

a, a

nces

tor o

f the

Kei

tas,

was

the

faith

ful s

erva

nt o

f the

Prop

het M

uham

mad

4(m

ay th

e pe

ace

of G

od b

e up

on h

im).

Bila

li Bo

unam

a had

seve

n so

ns o

f who

m th

e eld

est,

Lawa

lo, l

eft

the

Hol

y C

ity a

nd c

ame

to se

ttle

in M

ali;

Law

alo

had

Lata

lK

alab

i for

a so

n, L

atal

Kal

abi h

ad D

amul

Kal

abi w

ho th

en h

adLa

hilat

oul K

alabi

.La

hila

toul

Kal

abi w

as th

e fir

st bl

ack

prin

ce to

mak

e th

e Pi

l-gr

imag

e to

Mec

ca. O

n hi

s retu

rn h

e was

robb

ed b

y br

igan

ds in

the

dese

rt; h

is m

en w

ere s

catte

red

and

som

e die

d of

thirs

t, bu

t God

save

d La

hila

toul

Kal

abi,

for h

e was

a rig

hteo

us m

an. H

e cal

led

upon

the

Alm

ight

y an

d jin

n ap

pear

ed a

nd re

cogn

ized

him

as

king

. Afte

r sev

en y

ears

' abs

ence

Lah

ilato

ul w

as ab

le to

retu

rn, b

yth

e gra

ce o

f Alla

h th

e Alm

ight

y, to

Mal

i whe

re n

one e

xpec

ted

tose

e him

any

mor

e.2

Lahi

lato

ul K

alab

i had

two

sons

, the

elde

r bei

ng ca

lled

Kal

abi

Bom

ba an

d th

e you

nger

Kal

abi D

aum

an; t

he el

der c

hose

roya

lpo

wer

and

reig

ned,

whi

le th

e yo

unge

r pre

ferr

ed fo

rtune

and

wealt

h an

d be

cam

e the

ance

stor o

f tho

se w

ho g

o fro

m co

untry

toco

untry

seek

ing

thei

r for

tune

.Ka

labi B

omba

had

Mam

adi K

ani f

or a

son.

Mam

adi K

ani w

as a

hunt

er k

ing

like t

he fi

rst k

ings

of M

ali.

It w

as h

e who

inve

nted

the

hunt

er's

whi

stle

;b h

e co

mm

unic

ated

with

the

jinn

of th

efo

rest

and

bush

. The

se sp

irits

had

no se

crets

from

him

and

he w

aslo

ved b

y Kon

dolo

n Ni S

an,4.

e His

follo

wers

were

so nu

mer

ous t

hat

he fo

rmed

them

into

an ar

my

which

bec

ame f

orm

idab

le; h

e ofte

nga

ther

ed th

em to

geth

er in

the

bush

and

taug

ht th

em th

e ar

t of

hunt

ing.

It w

as h

e who

reve

aled

to h

unte

rs th

e med

icin

al le

aves

whi

ch h

eal w

ound

s and

cure

dise

ases

. Tha

nks t

o th

e stre

ngth

of

his f

ollo

wer

s, he

bec

ame

king

of a

vas

t cou

ntry

; with

them

Mam

adi K

ani c

onqu

ered

all

the

land

s whi

ch st

retc

h fr

om th

eSa

nkar

ani t

o th

e Bou

rd. M

amad

i Kan

i had

four

sons

-Kan

i Sim

-bo

n, K

amig

nogo

Sim

bon,

Kab

ala S

imbo

n an

d Si

mbo

n Ta

gnog

o-ke

lin.

They

wer

e al

l ini

tiate

d in

to th

e ar

t of h

untin

g an

dde

serv

ed th

e titl

e of S

imbo

n. It

was

the l

inea

ge o

f Bam

ari T

agno

-go

kelin

whi

ch h

eld

on to

the

pow

er; h

is so

n w

as M

'Bal

i N~n

bwh

ose s

on w

as B

ello

. Bel

lo's

son

was c

alle

d Be

llo B

akon

and

heha

d a

son

calle

d M

agha

n K

on F

atta

, also

cal

led

Frak

o M

agha

nKe

igu,

Mag

han

the h

ands

ome.

Mag

han

Kon

Fat

ta w

as th

e fa

ther

of t

he g

reat

Sun

diat

a an

dha

d th

ree w

ives

and

six ch

ildre

n-th

ree b

oys a

nd th

ree g

irls.

His

first

wife

was

calle

d Sa

ssou

ma B

dr4t

4, d

augh

ter o

f a g

reat

divi

ne;

she

was

the

mot

her o

f Kin

g D

anka

ran

Toum

an a

nd P

rince

ssNa

na T

riban

. The

seco

nd w

ife, S

ogol

on K

edjo

u, w

as th

e mot

her

of S

undi

ata a

nd th

e two

prin

cess

es S

ogol

on K

olon

kan

and

Sogo

-lo

n D

jam

arou

. The

third

wife

was

one

of t

he K

amar

as an

d w

asca

lled

Nam

andj

4; sh

e w

as th

e m

othe

r of M

andi

ng B

ory

(or

Man

ding

Bak

ary)

, who

was

the

best

frien

d of

his

half-

brot

her

Sund

iata.

3

The B

uffal

o Wom

anM

agha

n K

on F

atta

, the

fath

er o

f Sun

diat

a, w

as re

now

ned

for h

isbe

auty

in ev

ery

land;

but

he w

as al

so a

good

kin

g lo

ved

by al

l the

peop

le. I

n hi

s cap

ital o

f Nia

niba

7 he l

oved

to si

t ofte

n at

the f

oot

of th

e gr

eat s

ilk-c

otto

n tre

e 8w

hich

dom

inat

ed h

is pa

lace

of

Canc

o. M

agha

n K

on F

atta

had

bee

n re

igni

ng a

long

tim

e and

his

eldes

t son

Dan

kara

n To

uman

was

alre

ady

eight

yea

rs ol

d an

d of

tenca

me t

o sit

on

the o

x-hi

de b

esid

e his

fath

er.

Wel

l now

, one

day

whe

n th

e ki

ng h

ad ta

ken

up h

is u

sual

posit

ion

unde

r the

silk

-cot

ton

tree s

urro

unde

d by

his

kins

men

he

saw

a m

an d

ress

ed li

ke a

hunt

er co

min

g to

war

ds h

im; h

e _w

ore

the t

ight

-fitti

ng tr

ouse

rs o

f the

favo

urite

s of K

ondo

lon

Ni S

ane,

and

his b

lous

e ov

erse

wn

with

cow

ries s

how

ed th

at h

e w

as a

mas

ter o

f the

hun

ting

art.

All

pres

ent t

urne

d to

war

ds th

e un

-kn

own

man

who

se b

ow, p

olish

ed w

ith fr

eque

nt u

sage

, sho

ne in

the s

un. T

he m

an w

alke

d up

in fr

ont o

f the

kin

g, w

hom

he r

ecog

-ni

zed

in th

e m

idst

of h

is co

urtie

rs. H

e bo

wed

and

said

, 'I sa

lute

you,

kin

g of

Mali

, gre

etin

gs al

l you

of M

ali. I

am a

hunt

er ch

asin

gga

me a

nd co

me f

rom

San

gara

n; a

fear

less

doe

has

gui

ded

me t

oth

e w

alls

of N

iani

ba. B

y th

e gr

aces

of m

y m

aste

r the

gre

atSi

mbo

n'O m

y ar

row

s hav

e hit

her a

nd n

ow sh

e lie

s not

far f

rom

your

wal

ls. A

s is f

ittin

g, o

h ki

ng, I

hav

e com

e to

brin

g yo

u yo

urpo

rtion

'. He t

ook

a leg

from

his

leath

er sa

ck w

here

upon

the k

ing's

grio

t,G

nank

oum

an D

oua,

seiz

ed u

pon

the

leg

and

said

, 'Stra

n-ge

r, w

hoev

er y

ou m

ay b

e yo

u w

ill b

e th

e ki

ng's

gues

t bec

ause

you

resp

ect c

usto

m; c

ome a

nd ta

ke y

our p

lace

on

the m

at b

esid

eus

.Th

e ki

ng is

ple

ased

bec

ause

he

love

s rig

hteo

us m

en.'

The

king

nod

ded

his a

ppro

val a

nd al

l the

cour

tiers

agre

ed. T

he g

riot

cont

inue

d in

a m

ore

fam

iliar

tone

, 'Ohyou

who

com

e fro

m th

eSa

ngar

an, l

and

of th

e fav

ourit

es o

f Kon

dolo

n N

i San

e, yo

u w

hoha

ve d

oubt

less

had

an ex

pert

mas

ter,

will

you

ope

n yo

ur p

ouch

of k

now

ledg

e for

us a

nd in

struc

t us w

ith y

our c

onve

rsat

ion,

for

you

have

no

doub

t visi

ted

seve

ral l

ands

.'Th

e ki

ng, s

till s

ilent

, gav

e a

nod

of a

ppro

val a

nd a

cou

rtier

adde

d, 'T

he h

unte

rs o

f San

gara

n ar

e the

bes

t soo

thsa

yers

; if t

hestr

ange

r wish

es w

e cou

ld le

arn

a lot

from

him

.'Th

e hun

ter c

ame a

nd sa

t dow

n ne

ar G

nank

oum

an D

oua w

hova

cate

d on

e en

d of

the

mat

to h

im. T

hen

he sa

id, 'G

riot o

f the

4

king

, I am

not

one

of t

hese

hun

ters

who

se to

ngue

s are

mor

e dex

-te

rous

than

thei

r arm

s; I a

m n

o sp

inne

r of a

dven

ture

yar

ns, n

ordo

I lik

e pla

ying

upo

n th

e cre

dulit

y of

wor

thy

folk

; but

, tha

nks

to th

e lo

re w

hich

my

mas

ter h

as im

parte

d to

me,

I ca

n bo

ast o

fbe

ing

a see

r am

ong

seer

s.'H

e to

ok o

ut o

f his

hunt

er's

bage

l tw

elve

cow

ries w

hich

he

thre

w o

n th

e m

at. T

he k

ing

and

all h

is en

tour

age

now

turn

edto

war

ds th

e st

rang

er w

ho w

as ju

mbl

ing

up th

e tw

elve

shin

ysh

ells

with

his

bare

han

d. G

nank

oum

an D

oua d

iscre

etly

bro

ught

to th

e kin

g's n

otic

e tha

t the

soot

hsay

er w

as le

ft-ha

nded

. The

left

hand

is th

e ha

nd o

f evi

l, bu

t in

the

divi

ning

art

it is

said

that

left-

hand

ed p

eopl

e ar

e th

e be

st. T

he h

unte

r mut

tere

d so

me

in-

com

preh

ensi

ble

wor

ds in

a lo

w v

oice

whi

le h

e sh

uffle

d an

dju

mbl

ed th

e tw

elve

cow

ries i

nto

diff

eren

t pos

ition

s whi

ch h

em

used

on

at le

ngth

. All

of a

sudd

en h

e loo

ked

up at

the k

ing

and

said

, 'Oh

king

, the

wor

ld is

full

of m

yste

ry, a

ll is

hidd

en an

d w

ekn

ow n

othi

ng b

ut w

hat w

e can

see.

The s

ilk-c

otto

n tre

e spr

ings

from

a ti

ny se

ed-th

at w

hich

def

ies t

he te

mpe

st w

eigh

s in

itsge

rm n

o m

ore t

han

a gra

in o

f rice

. Kin

gdom

s are

like

tree

s; so

me

will

be s

ilk-c

otto

n tre

es, o

ther

s will

rem

ain

dwar

f pal

ms a

nd th

epo

werfu

l silk

-cot

ton

tree w

ill co

ver t

hem

with

its s

hade

. Oh,

who

can

reco

gnize

in th

e litt

le ch

ild th

e gre

at k

ing

to co

me?

The

gre

atco

mes

from

the

smal

l; tru

th a

nd fa

lseho

od h

ave

both

suck

led

at th

e sa

me

brea

st. N

othi

ng is

cer

tain

, but

, sire

, I c

an se

e tw

ostr

ange

rs o

ver t

here

com

ing

tow

ards

you

r city

.'He

fell

silen

t and

look

ed in

the d

irect

ion

of th

e city

gat

es fo

r ash

ort w

hile

. All

pres

ent s

ilent

ly tu

rned

tow

ards

the

gate

s. Th

eso

oths

ayer

retu

rned

to h

is co

wrie

s. H

e sh

ook

them

in h

is pa

lmw

ith a

skill

ed h

and

and

then

thre

w th

em o

ut.

'Kin

g of

Mali

, des

tiny

mar

ches

with

gre

at st

rides

, Mali

is ab

out

to em

erge

from

the n

ight

. Nia

niba

is li

ghtin

g up

, but

wha

t is t

his

light

that

com

es fr

om th

e eas

t?''H

unte

r,' sa

id G

nank

oum

an D

oua,

'you

r wor

ds a

re o

bscu

re.

Mak

e yo

ur sp

eech

com

preh

ensi

ble

to u

s, sp

eak

in th

e de

arla

ngua

ge o

f you

r sav

anna

.'la'I

am co

min

g to

that

now

, grio

t. Li

sten

to m

y m

essa

ge. L

isten

,sir

e.Y

ou h

ave

rule

d ov

er th

e ki

ngdo

m w

hich

you

r anc

esto

rsbe

quea

thed

to y

ou a

nd y

ou h

ave

no o

ther

am

bitio

n bu

t to

pass

on th

is re

alm

, int

act i

f not

incr

ease

d, to

you

r des

cend

ants;

but

,fin

e ki

ng, y

our s

ucce

ssor

is n

ot y

et b

orn.

I se

e tw

o hu

nter

s 5

com

ing

to y

our c

ity; t

hey

have

com

e fro

m a

far a

nd a

wom

anac

com

pani

es th

em. O

h, th

at w

oman

! She

is u

gly,

she i

s hid

eous

,sh

e be

ars o

n he

r bac

k a

disf

igur

ing

hum

p. H

er m

onstr

ous e

yes

seem

to h

ave

been

mer

ely

laid

on

her f

ace,

but

, mys

tery

of

mys

terie

s, th

is is

the

wom

an y

ou m

ust m

arry

, sire

, for

she

will

be th

e mot

her o

f him

who

will

mak

e the

nam

e of M

ali i

mm

orta

lfo

r eve

r. Th

e ch

ild w

ill b

e th

e se

vent

h st

ar, t

he se

vent

h co

n-qu

eror

of t

he e

arth

. He

will

be

mor

e m

ight

y th

an A

lexa

nder

.Bu

t, oh

kin

g, fo

r des

tiny

to le

ad th

is w

oman

to y

ou a

sacr

ifice

isne

cess

ary;

you

mus

t offe

r up

a red

bul

l, fo

r the

bul

l is p

ower

ful.

Whe

n its

blo

od so

aks i

nto

the

grou

nd n

othi

ng m

ore

will

hin

der

the a

rriva

l of y

our w

ife. T

here

, I h

ave s

aid

what

I ha

d to

say,

but

ever

ythi

ng is

in th

e han

ds o

f the

Alm

ight

y.'

The

hunt

er p

icke

d up

his

cow

ries a

nd p

ut th

em a

way

in h

isba

g. `I am

onl

y pa

ssin

g th

roug

h, k

ing

of M

ali,

and

now

I re

turn

toSa

ngar

an. F

arew

ell.'

The

hunt

er d

isapp

eare

d bu

t nei

ther

the

king

, Nar

6 M

agha

n,no

r his

grio

t, G

nank

oum

an D

oua,

forg

ot h

is pr

ophe

tic w

ords

;so

oths

ayer

s see

far a

head

, the

ir w

ords

are

not

alw

ays f

or th

ei m

med

iate

pre

sent

; man

is in

a h

urry

but

tim

e is

tard

y an

dev

eryt

hing

has

its s

easo

n.N

ow o

ne d

ay th

e ki

ng a

nd h

is su

ite w

ere

agai

n se

ated

und

erth

e gre

at si

lk-c

otto

n tre

e of N

iani

ba, c

hatti

ng as

was

thei

r won

t.Su

dden

ly th

eir. g

aze w

as d

rawn

by

som

e stra

nger

s who

cam

e int

oth

e ci

ty. T

he sm

all e

ntou

rage

of t

he k

ing

wat

ched

in si

lent

surp

rise.

Two

youn

g hu

nter

s, ha

ndso

me

and

of fi

ne c

arria

ge, w

ere

wal

king

alon

g pr

eced

ed b

y a y

oung

mai

d. T

hey

turn

ed to

war

dsth

e Cou

rt. T

he tw

o m

en w

ere c

arry

ing

shin

ing

bow

s of s

ilver

on

their

shou

lder

s. Th

e one

who

seem

ed th

e eld

er o

f the

two

walk

edw

ith th

e ass

uran

ce o

f a m

aste

r hun

ter.

Whe

n th

e stra

nger

s wer

ea f

ew st

eps f

rom

the k

ing

they

bow

ed an

d th

e eld

er sp

oke t

hus:

` We

gree

t Kin

g N

are

Mag

han

Kon

Fat

ta a

nd h

is en

tour

age.

We c

ome f

rom

the l

and

of D

o,' 3

but m

y br

othe

r and

I be

long

toM

ali a

nd w

e ar

e of

the

tribe

of T

raor

e. H

untin

g an

d ad

vent

ure

led

us as

far a

s the

dist

ant l

and

of D

o wh

ere K

ing

Man

sa G

nem

oD

iarra

reig

ns. I

am ca

lled

Oul

amba

and

my

brot

her O

ulan

i. Th

eyo

ung

girl

is fro

m D

o an

d w

e brin

g he

r as a

pre

sent

to th

e kin

g,fo

r my

brot

her a

nd I

deem

ed h

er w

orth

y to

be a

kin

g's w

ife.'

6

The k

ing

and

his s

uite

trie

d in

vai

n to

get

a lo

ok at

the y

oung

girl,

for s

he st

ayed

kne

elin

g, h

er h

ead

lowe

red,

and

had

delib

er-

atel

y le

t her

ker

chie

f han

g in

fron

t of h

er fa

ce. I

f the

you

ng g

irlsu

ccee

ded

in h

idin

g he

r fac

e, sh

e did

not

, how

ever

, man

age t

oco

ver u

p th

e hum

p wh

ich

defo

rmed

her

shou

lder

s and

bac

k. S

hew

as u

gly

in a

stur

dy so

rt of

way

. You

cou

ld se

e he

r mus

cula

rar

ms,

and

her b

ulgi

ng b

reas

ts pu

shin

g sto

utly

agai

nst t

he st

rong

pagn

e of c

otto

n fa

bric

whi

ch w

as k

notte

d ju

st un

der h

er ar

mpi

t.Th

e ki

ng c

onsi

dere

d he

r for

a m

omen

t, th

en th

e ha

ndso

me

Mag

han

turn

ed h

is he

ad a

way

. He

stare

d a

long

tim

e at

Gna

n-ko

uman

Dou

a th

en h

e lo

wer

ed h

is he

ad. T

he g

riot u

nder

stood

all th

e sov

ereig

n's em

barra

ssm

ent.

`You

are t

he g

uests

of t

he k

ing;

hun

ters

, we w

ish y

ou p

eace

inNi

anib

a, fo

r all

the s

ons o

f Mali

are b

ut o

ne. C

ome a

nd si

t dow

n,sla

ke y

our t

hirs

t and

rela

te to

the

king

by

wha

t adv

entu

re y

oulef

tDo

with

this

maid

en.'

The k

ing

nodd

ed h

is ap

prov

al. T

he tw

o br

othe

rs lo

oked

at ea

chot

her a

nd, a

t a si

gn fr

om th

e el

der,

the

youn

ger w

ent u

p to

the

king

and

put

dow

n on

the

grou

nd th

e ca

laba

sh o

f col

d w

ater

whi

ch a

serv

ant h

ad b

roug

ht h

im.

The

hunt

er sa

id: `

Afte

r the

gre

at h

arve

st" m

y br

othe

r and

Ile

ft ou

r vill

age

to h

unt.

It w

as in

this

way

that

our

pur

suit

ofga

me l

ed u

s as f

ar as

the a

ppro

ache

s of t

he la

nd o

f Do.

We m

ettw

o hu

nter

s, on

e of

who

m w

as w

ound

ed, a

nd w

e le

arnt

from

them

that

an

amaz

ing

buffa

lo w

as ra

vagi

ng th

e co

untry

side

ofD

o. E

very

day

it cl

aim

ed so

me v

ictim

s and

nob

ody

dare

d le

ave

the v

illag

e afte

r sun

set.

The k

ing,

Do

Man

sa-G

nem

o D

iarra

, had

prom

ised

the f

ines

t rew

ards

to th

e hun

ter w

ho k

illed

the b

uffa

lo.

We d

ecid

ed to

try

our l

uck

too

and

so w

e pen

etrate

d in

to th

e lan

dof

Do.

We w

ere a

dvan

cing

war

ily, o

ur ey

es w

ell s

kinn

ed, w

hen

we

saw

an

old

wom

an b

y th

e sid

e of

a ri

ver.

She

was

wee

ping

and

lam

entin

g, g

naw

ed b

y hu

nger

. Unt

il th

en n

o pa

sser

-by

had

deig

ned

to st

op b

y he

r. Sh

e be

seec

hed

us, i

n th

e na

me

of th

eA

lmig

hty,

to g

ive h

er so

met

hing

to ea

t. To

uche

d by

her

tear

s Iap

proa

ched

and

took

som

e piec

es o

f drie

d m

eat f

rom

my

hunt

er's

bag.

Whe

n sh

e ha

d ea

ten

wel

l she

said

, "H

unte

r, m

ay G

odre

quite

you

with

the

char

ity y

ou h

ave

give

n m

e."

We

wer

em

akin

g re

ady

to le

ave w

hen

she s

topp

ed m

e. "I

kno

w," s

he sa

id,

"that

you

are

goi

ng to

try

your

luck

aga

inst

the

Buffa

lo o

f Do,

but y

ou sh

ould

kno

w th

at m

any

othe

rs b

efor

e you

hav

e met

their

7

deat

h th

roug

h th

eir f

oolh

ardi

ness

, for

arro

ws a

re u

sele

ss ag

ains

tth

e bu

ffalo

; but

, you

ng h

unte

r, yo

ur h

eart

is ge

nero

us a

nd it

isyo

u w

ho w

ill b

e th

e bu

ffalo

's va

nqui

sher

. I a

m th

e bu

ffalo

you

are l

ooki

ng fo

r, an

d yo

ur g

ener

osity

has

van

quish

ed m

e. I a

m th

ebu

ffal

o th

at ra

vage

s Do.

I ha

ve k

illed

a h

undr

ed a

nd se

ven

hunt

ers a

nd w

ound

ed se

vent

y-se

ven;

ever

y da

y I k

ill an

inha

bi-

tant

of D

o an

d th

e kin

g, G

nem

o D

iarra

, is a

t his

wit'

s end

whi

chjin

n to

sacr

ifice

to. H

ere,

you

ng m

an, t

ake

this

dista

ff an

d th

iseg

g an

d go

to th

e plai

n of

Our

anta

mba

whe

re I

brow

se am

ong

the

king

's cr

ops.

Befo

re u

sing

your

bow

you

mus

t tak

e ai

m a

t me

thre

e tim

es w

ith th

is di

staff;

then

dra

w y

our b

ow an

d I s

hall

bevu

lner

able

to y

our a

rrow

. I sh

all f

all b

ut sh

all g

et u

p an

d pu

rsue

you

into

a dr

y pl

ain.

The

n th

row

the e

gg b

ehin

d yo

u an

d a g

reat

mire

will

com

e in

to b

eing

whe

re I

shal

l be

unab

le to

adv

ance

and

then

you

will

kill

me.

As a

pro

of o

f you

r vic

tory

you

mus

tcu

t off

the b

uffa

lo's

tail,

whi

ch is

of g

old,

and

take

it to

the k

ing,

from

who

m y

ou w

ill e

xact

you

r due

rew

ard.

As f

or m

e, I

have

run

my

cour

se a

nd p

unis

hed

the

king

of D

o, m

y br

othe

r, fo

rde

priv

ing

me

of m

y pa

rt of

the

inhe

ritan

ce."

Craz

y w

ith jo

y, I

seize

d th

e dist

aff a

nd th

e egg

, but

the o

ld w

oman

stop

ped

me w

itha

gest

ure

and

said

, "Th

ere

is o

ne c

ondi

tion,

hun

ter."

"W

hat

cond

ition

?" I

repl

ied

impa

tient

ly. "

The

king

pro

mise

s the

han

dof

the

mos

t bea

utifu

l mai

den

of D

o to

the

vict

or. W

hen

all t

hepe

ople

of D

o ar

e gat

here

d an

d yo

u ar

e tol

d to

choo

se h

er w

hom

you

wan

t as a

wife

you

mus

t sea

rch

in th

e cr

owd

and

you

will

find

a ve

ry u

gly

mai

d-ug

lier t

han

you

can

imag

ine-

sitti

ngap

art o

n an

obs

erva

tion

plat

form

; it i

s her

you

mus

t cho

ose.

She

is ca

lled

Sogo

lon

Ked

jou,

or S

ogol

on K

ondo

uto,

bec

ause

she i

s ahu

nchb

ack.

You

will

choo

se h

er fo

r she

is m

y w

raith

. 1s S

he w

illbe

an ex

traor

dina

ry w

oman

if y

ou m

anag

e to

poss

ess h

er. P

rom

-ise

me

you

will

cho

ose

her,

hunt

er."

I sw

ore

to, s

olem

nly,

betw

een

the

hand

s of t

he o

ld w

oman

, and

we

cont

inue

d on

our

way

. The

pla

in o

f Our

anta

mba

was

hal

f a d

ay's

jour

ney

from

ther

e. O

n th

e w

ay w

e sa

w h

unte

rs w

ho w

ere

fleei

ng a

nd w

howa

tche

d us

qui

te d

umbf

ound

ed. T

he b

uffa

lo w

as at

the o

ther

end

of th

e pla

in b

ut w

hen

it sa

w u

s it c

harg

ed w

ith m

enac

ing

horn

s.I d

id as

the o

ld w

oman

had

told

me a

nd k

illed

the b

uffa

lo. I

cut

off i

ts ta

il an

d w

e w

ent b

ack

to th

e to

wn

of D

o as

nig

ht w

asfa

lling

, but

we d

id n

ot g

o be

fore

the k

ing

until

mor

ning

cam

e1e

The

king

had

the

drum

s bea

ten

and

befo

re m

idda

y al

l the

in-

8

habi

tant

s of t

he co

untry

wer

e gat

here

d in

the m

ain

squa

re. T

hem

utila

ted

carc

ass o

f the

buf

falo

had

bee

n pl

aced

in th

e mid

dle o

fth

e sq

uare

and

the

delir

ious

cro

wd

abus

ed it

, whi

le o

ur n

ames

were

sung

in a

thou

sand

refra

ins.

Whe

n th

e kin

g ap

pear

ed a

deep

silen

ce se

ttled

on

the

crow

d. "I

pro

mise

d th

e ha

nd o

f the

mos

tbe

autif

ul m

aide

n in

Do

to th

e br

ave

hunt

er w

ho sa

ved

us fr

omth

e sco

urge

whi

ch o

verw

helm

ed u

s. Th

e buf

falo

of D

o is

dead

and

here

is th

e hu

nter

who

has

kill

ed it

. I a

m a

man

of m

y w

ord.

Hun

ter,

here

are

all

the

daug

hter

s of D

o; ta

ke y

our p

ick.

" And

the c

row

d sh

owed

its a

ppro

val b

y a g

reat

chee

r. O

n th

at d

ay al

lth

e dau

ghte

rs o

f Do

wor

e the

ir fe

stive

dre

ss; g

old

shon

e in

thei

rha

ir an

d fr

agile

wris

ts b

ent u

nder

the

wei

ght o

f hea

vy si

lver

brac

elets.

Nev

er d

id so

muc

h be

auty

com

e tog

ethe

r in

one p

lace.

Full

of p

ride,

my

quiv

er o

n m

y ba

ck, I

swag

gere

d be

fore

the

beau

tiful

girl

s of D

o wh

o we

re sm

iling

at m

e, wi

th th

eir t

eeth

aswh

ite as

the r

ice o

f Mali

. But

I re

mem

bere

d th

e wor

ds o

f the

old

wom

an. I

wen

t rou

nd th

e gr

eat c

ircle

man

y tim

es u

ntil

at la

st I

saw

Sogo

lon

Kedj

ou si

tting

apar

t on

a rais

ed p

latfo

rm. I

elbo

wed

my

way

thro

ugh

the c

row

d, to

ok S

ogol

on b

y th

e han

d an

d dr

ewhe

r int

o th

e m

iddl

e of

the

circ

le. S

how

ing

her t

o th

e ki

ng, I

said

, "Oh

Kin

g Gn

emo

Diar

ra, h

ere i

s the

one

I ha

ve ch

osen

from

amon

g th

e you

ng m

aids

of D

o; it

is h

er I

wou

ld li

ke fo

r a w

ife."

The

choi

ce w

as so

par

adox

ical

that

the

king

cou

ld n

ot h

elp

laug

hing

, and

then

gen

eral

laug

hter

bro

ke o

ut a

nd th

e pe

ople

split

thei

r sid

es w

ith m

irth.

The

y to

ok m

e fo

r a fo

ol, a

nd I

beca

me

a lu

dicr

ous h

ero.

"You

've g

ot to

bel

ong

to th

e tri

be o

fTr

aorc

to d

o th

ings

like

that

," sa

id so

meb

ody

in th

e cro

wd, a

nd it

was

thus

that

my

brot

her a

nd I

left

Do

the

very

sam

e da

y pu

r-su

ed b

y th

e moc

kery

of t

he K

onde

s.'1'

The

hunt

er e

nded

his

story

and

the

nobl

e ki

ng N

are

Mag

han

dete

rmin

ed to

sole

mni

ze h

is m

arria

ge w

ith a

ll th

e cu

stom

ary

form

aliti

es so

that

nob

ody

coul

d di

sput

e the

righ

ts of

the s

on to

be b

orn

to h

im. T

he tw

o hu

nter

s wer

e con

sider

ed as

bei

ng re

la-

tives

of S

ogol

on an

d it

was t

o th

em th

at G

nank

oum

an D

oua b

ore

the t

radi

tiona

l col

a nut

s.l8

By a

gree

men

t with

the

hunt

ers t

hem

arria

ge w

as fi

xed

for t

he fi

rst W

edne

sday

of t

he n

ew m

oon.

The

twelv

e vill

ages

of o

ld M

ali an

d all

the p

eopl

es al

lied

to th

em w

ere

acqu

ainted

with

this

and

on th

e app

oint

ed d

ay d

elega

tions

floc

ked

from

all s

ides

to N

ianib

a, th

e tow

n of

Mag

han

Kon

Fatta

.So

golo

n ha

d be

en lo

dged

with

an o

ld au

nt o

f the

kin

g's. S

ince 9

her a

rriva

l in

Nian

iba s

he h

ad n

ever

onc

e gon

e out

and

ever

yone

long

ed to

see t

he w

oman

for w

hom

Nar

6 M

agha

n w

as p

repa

ring

such

a m

agni

ficen

t wed

ding

. It w

as k

now

n th

at sh

e w

as n

otbe

autif

ul, b

ut th

e cur

iosit

y of

ever

yone

was

arou

sed,

and

alrea

dya

thou

sand

ane

cdot

es w

ere

circ

ulat

ing,

mos

t of t

hem

put

abo

utby

Sas

soum

a B4r

&d,

the k

ing's

firs

t wife

.Th

e roy

al dr

ums o

f Nian

iba a

nnou

nced

the f

estiv

ity at

crac

k of

dawn

. The

town

awok

e to

the s

ound

of t

am-ta

ms w

hich

answ

ered

each

oth

er fr

om o

ne d

istric

t to

anot

her;

from

the

mid

st of

the

crow

ds a

rose

the

voic

es o

f grio

ts si

ngin

g th

e pr

aise

s of N

ard

Mag

han.

At t

he h

ome o

f the

kin

g's o

ld au

nt, t

he h

aird

ress

er o

f Nia

niba

was

pla

iting

Sog

olon

Ked

jou's

hai

r. A

s she

lay

on h

er m

at, h

erhe

ad re

sting

on

the h

aird

ress

er's

legs

, she

wep

t sof

tly, w

hile

the

king

's sis

ters c

ame t

o ch

aff h

er, a

s was

the c

usto

m.

` Thi

s is y

our l

ast d

ay o

f fre

edom

; fro

m n

ow o

nwar

ds y

ou w

illbe

our

wom

an.'

` Say

fare

wel

l to

your

you

th,' a

dded

anot

her.

' You

won

't da

nce

in th

e sq

uare

any

mor

e an

d ha

ve y

ours

elf

adm

ired

by th

e boy

s,' ad

ded

a thi

rd.

Sogo

lon

neve

r utte

red

a w

ord

and

from

tim

e to

tim

e th

e ol

dha

irdre

sser

said

, 'The

re, t

here

, sto

p cr

ying

. It's

a ne

w li

fe b

egin

-ni

ng, y

ou k

now

, mor

e be

autif

ul th

an y

ou th

ink.

You

will

be

am

othe

r and

you

will

kno

w th

e joy

of b

eing

a qu

een

surro

unde

dby

you

r chi

ldre

n. C

ome n

ow, d

augh

ter,

don't

liste

n to

the g

ibes

of y

our s

ister

s-in

-law

.' In

front

of t

he h

ouse

the

poet

esse

s who

belo

nged

to th

e ki

ng's

siste

rs c

hant

ed th

e na

me

of th

e yo

ung

brid

e. Dur

ing

this

time t

he fe

stivi

ty w

as re

achi

ng it

s hei

ght i

n fro

ntof

the k

ing's

encl

osur

e. Ea

ch v

illag

e was

repr

esen

ted

by a

troup

eof

dan

cers

and

mus

icia

ns; i

n th

e m

iddl

e of

the

cour

tyar

d th

eel

ders

wer

e sac

rific

ing

oxen

whi

ch th

e ser

vant

s car

ved

up, w

hile

unga

inly

vul

ture

s, pe

rche

d on

the g

reat

silk

-cot

ton

tree,

watc

hed

the h

ecat

omb

with

thei

r eye

s.Si

tting

in fr

ont o

f the

pala

ce, N

are M

agha

n lis

tened

to th

e gra

vem

usic

of t

he 'b

olon

' 19in

the m

idst

of h

is co

urtie

rs. D

oua,

stand

-in

g am

id th

e em

inen

t gue

sts, h

eld

his g

reat

spea

r in

his h

and

and

sang

the

anth

em o

f the

Man

ding

o ki

ngs.

Ever

ywhe

re in

the

villa

ge p

eopl

e w

ere

danc

ing

and

singi

ng a

nd m

embe

rs o

f the

roya

l fam

ily e

nvin

ced

thei

r joy

, as w

as fi

tting

, by

distr

ibut

ing

to

grain

, clo

thes

, and

even

gol

d. E

ven

the j

ealo

us S

asso

uma B

4ret

gto

ok p

art i

n th

is la

rges

se an

d, am

ong

othe

r thi

ngs,

besto

wed

fine

loin

-clo

ths o

n the

poete

sses

.B

ut n

ight

was

falli

ng a

nd th

e su

n ha

d hi

dden

beh

ind

the-

mou

ntai

n. It

was

tim

e for

the m

arria

ge p

roce

ssio

n to

form

up

infro

nt o

f the

hou

se o

f the

kin

g's a

unt.

The

tam

-tam

s had

falle

nsil

ent.

The o

ld fe

mal

e rel

ativ

es o

f the

kin

g ha

d w

ashe

d an

d pe

r-fu

med

Sog

olon

and n

ow sh

e was

dres

sed c

ompl

etely

in w

hite

with

a lar

ge v

eil o

ver h

er h

ead.

Sogo

lon

wal

ked

in fr

ont h

eld

by tw

o ol

d w

omen

. The

kin

g'sre

lativ

es fo

llow

ed an

d, b

ehin

d, th

e cho

ir of

you

ng g

irls o

f Mal

isa

ng th

e br

ide's

dep

artu

re so

ng, k

eepi

ng ti

me

to th

e so

ngs b

ycl

appi

ng th

eir h

ands

. The

vill

ager

s and

gue

sts w

ere

lined

up

alon

g th

e st

retc

h of

gro

und

whi

ch se

para

ted

the

aunt

's ho

use

from

the

pala

ce in

ord

er to

see

the

proc

essi

on g

o by

. Whe

nSo

golo

n ha

d re

ache

d th

e thr

esho

ld o

f the

kin

g's an

tech

ambe

r one

of h

is yo

ung

brot

hers

lifte

d he

r vig

orou

sly fr

om th

e gro

und

and

ran

off w

ith h

er to

war

ds th

e pal

ace w

hile

the c

row

d ch

eere

d.Th

e wom

en d

ance

d in

fron

t of t

he p

alace

of t

he k

ing

for a

long

whi

le, t

hen,

afte

r rec

eivi

ng m

oney

and

pres

ents

from

mem

bers

of th

e ro

yal f

amily

, the

cro

wd

disp

erse

d an

d ni

ght d

arke

ned

over

head

.'S

he w

ill b

e an

extra

ordi

nary

wom

an if

you

man

age t

o po

sses

she

r.'Th

ose

wer

e th

e w

ords

of t

he o

ld w

oman

of D

o, b

ut th

eco

nque

ror o

f the

buf

falo

had

not

bee

n ab

le to

conq

uer t

he y

oung

girl.

It w

as o

nly

as an

afte

rthou

ght t

hat t

he tw

o hu

nter

s, O

ulan

ian

d Ou

lamba

, had

the i

dea o

f giv

ing

her t

o th

e kin

g of

Mali

.Th

at e

veni

ng, t

hen,

Nar

d M

agha

n tri

ed to

per

form

his

duty

as a

husb

and

but S

ogol

on re

pulse

d hi

s adv

ance

s. He

per

sisted

, but

his e

fforts

wer

e in

vain

and

early

the n

ext m

orni

ng D

oua f

ound

the k

ing

exha

uste

d, li

ke a

man

who

had

suffe

red

a gre

at d

efea

t.'W

hat i

s the

mat

ter,

my

king

?' as

ked

the g

riot.

'I ha

ve b

een

unab

le to

pos

sess

her

-and

bes

ides

, she

frig

hten

sm

e, th

is yo

ung

girl.

I ev

en d

oubt

whe

ther

she i

s a h

uman

bei

ng;

whe

n I d

rew

clo

se to

her

dur

ing

the

nigh

t her

bod

y be

cam

eco

vere

d wi

th lo

ng h

airs

and

that

scar

ed m

e ver

y m

uch.

All

nigh

tlo

ng I

calle

d up

on m

y w

raith

but

he

was

una

ble

to m

aste

rSo

golo

n's.'

All

that

day

the

king

did

not

em

erge

and

Dou

a w

as th

e on

lyon

e to e

nter

and l

eave

the p

alace

. All

Nian

iba s

eem

ed pu

zzled

. The il

old

wom

en w

ho h

ad c

ome

early

to se

ek th

e vi

rgin

ity p

agne

zaha

d be

en d

iscre

etly

turn

ed aw

ay. A

nd th

is w

ent o

n fo

r a w

eek.

Nar

d M

agha

n ha

d va

inly

soug

ht ad

vice

from

som

e gre

at so

r-ce

rers

but

all

thei

r tric

ks w

ere

pow

erle

ss in

ove

rcom

ing

the

wra

ith o

f Sog

olon

. But

one

nig

ht, w

hen

ever

yone

was

asle

ep,

Nar

d M

agha

n go

t up.

He

unho

oked

his

hunt

er's

bag

from

the

wal

l and

, sitt

ing

in th

e m

iddl

e of

the

hous

e, h

e sp

read

on

the

grou

nd th

e san

d wh

ich th

e bag

cont

ained

. The

kin

g be

gan

tracin

gm

yste

rious

sign

s in

the s

and;

he t

race

d, ef

face

d an

d be

gan

again

.So

golo

n w

oke u

p. S

he k

new

that

sand

talk

s,21

but s

he w

as in

-tri

gued

to s

ee th

e ki

ng s

o ab

sorb

ed a

t dea

d of

nig

ht. N

ard

Mag

han

stop

ped

draw

ing

sign

s and

with

his

han

d un

der h

isch

in h

e see

med

to b

e bro

odin

g on

the s

igns

. All

of a

sudd

en h

eju

mpe

d up

, bou

nded

afte

r his

swor

d w

hich

hun

g ab

ove h

is be

d,an

d sa

id, `

Sogo

lon,

Sog

olon

, wak

e up.

A d

ream

has

awak

ened

me

out o

f my

sleep

and

the p

rote

ctiv

e spi

rit o

f the

Man

ding

o ki

ngs

has a

ppea

red

to m

e. I

was

mist

aken

in th

e in

terp

reta

tion

I put

upon

the

wor

ds o

f the

hun

ter w

ho le

d yo

u to

me.

The

jinn

has

reve

aled

to m

e the

ir re

al m

eani

ng. S

ogol

on, I

mus

t sac

rific

e you

to th

e gr

eatn

ess o

f my

hous

e. T

he b

lood

of a

virg

in o

f the

trib

eof

Kon

dd m

ust b

e spi

lt, an

d yo

u ar

e the

Kon

dd v

irgin

who

m fa

teha

s bro

ught

und

er m

y ro

of. F

orgi

ve m

e, b

ut I

mus

t acc

ompl

ishm

y m

issio

n. F

orgi

ve th

e han

d wh

ich is

goi

ng to

shed

you

r blo

od.'

' No,

no-

why

me?

-no,

I do

n't w

ant t

o di

e.'

`It is

use

less

,' sai

d th

e kin

g. `I

t is n

ot m

e who

has

dec

ided

.'H

e se

ized

Sog

olon

by

the

hair

with

an

iron

grip

, but

so g

reat

had

been

her

frig

ht th

at sh

e had

alre

ady

fain

ted.

In th

is fa

int,

she

was

cong

eale

d in

her

hum

an b

ody

and

her w

raith

was

no

long

erin

her

, and

whe

n sh

e wok

e up,

she w

as al

read

y a w

ife. T

hat v

ery

night

, Sog

olon c

once

ived.Q

Z

The L

ion C

hild

A w

ife q

uick

ly g

row

s acc

usto

med

to h

er st

ate.

Sog

olon

now

wal

ked

freel

y in

the

king

's gr

eat e

nclo

sure

and

peo

ple

also

got

12

used

to h

er u

glin

ess.

But t

he fi

rst w

ife o

f the

kin

g, S

asso

uma

Bdr

dtd,

turn

ed o

ut to

be

unbe

arab

le. S

he w

as re

stle

ss, a

ndsm

arte

d to

see t

he u

gly

Sogo

lon

prou

dly

flaun

ting

her p

regn

ancy

abou

t the

pala

ce. W

hat w

ould

bec

ome o

f her

, Sas

soum

a Bdr

dtd,

ifhe

r son

, alre

ady

eight

yea

rs o

ld, w

as d

isinh

erite

d in

favo

ur o

f the

child

that

Sog

olon

was

goi

ng to

brin

g in

to th

e w

orld

? A

ll th

eki

ng's

atte

ntio

ns w

ent t

o th

e m

othe

r-to-

be. O

n re

turn

ing

from

the

war

s he

wou

ld b

ring

her t

he b

est p

ortio

n of

the

boot

y-fin

elo

in-c

loth

s and

rare

jewe

ls. S

oon,

dar

k sc

hem

es to

ok fo

rm in

the

min

d of

Sas

soum

aBdrdtd;

she

dete

rmin

ed to

kill

Sog

olon

. In

grea

t sec

recy

she h

ad th

e for

emos

t sor

cere

rs of

Mali

com

e to

her,

but t

hey

all d

ecla

red

them

selv

es in

capa

ble o

f tac

klin

g So

golo

n.In

fact,

from

twili

ght o

nwar

ds, t

hree

owl

szs c

ame a

nd p

erch

ed o

nth

e roo

f of h

er h

ouse

and

watch

ed o

ver h

er. F

or th

e sak

e of p

eace

and

quie

t Sas

soum

a sai

d to

her

self,

`Ver

y w

ell t

hen,

let h

im b

ebo

rn, t

his c

hild

, and

then

we'l

l see

."So

golo

n's ti

me c

ame.

The k

ing

com

man

ded

the n

ine g

reat

est

mid

wive

s of M

ali to

com

e to

Nian

i, an

d th

ey w

ere n

ow co

nstan

tlyin

atte

ndan

ce o

n th

e dam

sel o

f Do.

The

kin

g w

as in

the m

idst

ofhi

s cou

rtier

s one

day

whe

n so

meo

ne c

ame

to a

nnou

nce

to h

imth

at S

ogol

on's

labo

urs w

ere b

egin

ning

. He s

ent a

ll hi

s cou

rtier

saw

ay an

d on

ly G

nank

oum

an D

oua s

taye

d by

his

side.

One w

ould

have

thou

ght t

hat t

his w

as th

e fir

st tim

e th

at h

e ha

d be

com

e a

fath

er, h

e w

as so

wor

ried

and

agita

ted.

The

who

le p

alac

e ke

ptco

mpl

ete

silen

ce. D

oua

tried

to d

istra

ct th

e so

vere

ign

with

his

one-

strin

ged

guita

r but

in v

ain.

He

even

had

to st

op th

is m

usic

as it

jarre

d on

the

king

. Sud

denl

y th

e sk

y da

rken

ed a

nd g

reat

clou

ds c

omin

g fro

m th

e ea

st hi

d th

e su

n, a

lthou

gh it

was

still

the

dry

seas

on. T

hund

er b

egan

to ru

mbl

e an

d sw

ift li

ghtn

ing

rent

the

clou

ds; a

few

larg

e dr

ops o

f rai

n be

gan

to fa

ll w

hile

astr

ong

wind

ble

w up

. A fl

ash

of li

ghtn

ing

acco

mpa

nied

by

a dul

lra

ttle

of th

unde

r bur

st ou

t of t

he e

ast a

nd li

t up

the

who

le sk

yas

far a

s the

wes

t. Th

en th

e ra

in st

oppe

d an

d th

e su

n ap

pear

edan

d it

was

at t

his v

ery

mom

ent t

hat a

mid

wife

cam

e ou

t of

Sogo

lon's

hou

se, r

an to

the a

ntec

ham

ber a

nd an

noun

ced

to N

ard

Mag

han

that

he w

as th

e fat

her o

f a b

oy.

The

king

show

ed n

o re

actio

n at

all.

He

was

as t

houg

h in

ada

ze. T

hen

Dou

a, re

aliz

ing

the

king

's em

otio

n, g

ot u

p an

d sig

-na

lled

to tw

o sla

ves w

ho w

ere

alre

ady

stand

ing

near

the

roya

l`ta

bala

'.' T

he h

asty

bea

ts of

the r

oyal

dru

m an

noun

ced

to M

ali 13

the

birth

of a

son;

the

villa

ge ta

m-ta

ms t

ook

it up

and

thus

all

Mal

i got

the

good

new

s the

sam

e da

y. S

hout

s of j

oy, t

am-ta

ms

and

`bala

fons

's 6to

ok th

e pl

ace

of th

e re

cent

sile

nce

and

all t

hem

usic

ians

of N

iani

mad

e th

eir w

ay to

the

pala

ce. H

is in

itial

emot

ion

bein

g ov

er, t

he k

ing

had

got u

p an

d on

leav

ing

the

ante

cham

ber h

e was

gre

eted

byth

e war

m v

oice

of G

nank

oum

anDo

ua si

ngin

g:` I

salu

te y

ou, f

athe

r; I s

alut

e you

, kin

g N

ard

Mag

han;

I sa

lute

you,

Mag

han

Kon

Fat

ta, F

rako

Mag

han

Kei

gu.$

e Th

e ch

ild is

born

who

m th

e w

orld

aw

aite

d. M

agha

n, o

h ha

ppy

fath

er, I

salu

te y

ou. T

he li

on c

hild

, the

buf

falo

chi

ld is

bor

n, a

nd to

anno

unce

him

the

Alm

ight

y ha

s mad

e th

e th

unde

r pea

l, th

ew

hole

sky

has l

it up

and

the e

arth

has

trem

bled

. All

hail,

fath

er,

hail

king

Nar

d M

agha

n!'

All

the g

riots

wer

e the

re an

d ha

d al

read

y co

mpo

sed

a son

g in

prai

se o

f the

roya

l inf

ant.

The

gene

rosit

y of

kin

gs m

akes

grio

tsel

oque

nt, a

nd M

agha

n K

on F

atta

dist

ribut

ed o

n th

is da

y al

one

six g

rana

ries o

f ric

e am

ong

the p

opul

ace.

Sass

oum

a Bdr

dtd

dis-

tingu

ished

her

self

by h

er la

rges

ses,

but t

hat d

eceiv

ed n

obod

y. S

hew

as su

fferin

g in

her

hea

rt bu

t did

not

wan

t to

betra

y an

ythi

ng.

The

nam

e w

as g

iven

the

eigh

th d

ay a

fter h

is bi

rth. I

t was

agr

eat f

east

day

and

peo

ple

cam

e fr

om a

ll th

e vi

llage

s of M

ali

whi

le e

ach

neig

hbou

ring

peop

le b

roug

ht g

ifts t

o th

e ki

ng. F

irst

thin

g in

the

mor

ning

a g

reat

circ

le h

ad fo

rmed

in fr

ont o

f the

pala

ce. I

n th

e mid

dle,

serv

ing

wom

en w

ere p

ound

ing

rice w

hich

was

to se

rve

as b

read

, and

sacr

ifice

d ox

en la

y at

the

foot

of t

hegr

eat s

ilk-c

otto

n tre

e.In

Sog

olon

's ho

use t

he k

ing's

aunt

cut o

ff th

e bab

y's fi

rst cr

op o

fha

ir w

hile

the

poet

esse

s, eq

uipp

ed w

ith la

rge

fans

, coo

led

the

mot

her w

ho w

as n

onch

alan

tly st

retc

hed

out o

n so

ft cu

shio

ns.

The k

ing

was i

n hi

s ant

echa

mbe

r but

he c

ame o

ut fo

llowe

d by

Doua

. The

crow

d fe

ll sil

ent a

nd D

oua c

ried,

`The

child

of S

ogol

onw

ill b

e ca

lled

Mag

han

afte

r his

fath

er, a

nd M

ari D

jata

, a n

ame

whic

h no

Man

ding

o pr

ince

has

ever

bor

ne. S

ogol

on's

son

will

beth

e firs

t of t

his n

ame."

Stra

ight

aw

ay th

e gr

iots

shou

ted

the

nam

e of

the

infa

nt a

ndth

e tam

-tam

s sou

nded

anew

. The

kin

g's au

nt, w

ho h

ad co

me o

utto

hea

r the

nam

e of

the

child

, wen

t bac

k in

to th

e ho

use,

and

whisp

ered

the d

oubl

e nam

e of M

agha

n an

d M

ari D

jata

in th

e ear

of th

e new

ly-b

orn

so th

at h

e wou

ld re

mem

ber i

t.14

The f

estiv

ity en

ded

with

the d

istrib

utio

n of

mea

t to

the h

eads

of fa

mili

es an

d ev

eryo

ne d

isper

sed

joyf

ully

. The

nea

r rel

ativ

eson

e by

one w

ent t

o ad

mire

the n

ewly

-bor

n.

Child

hood

God

has h

is m

yster