Pressure from Sassouma Berete and the community has significantly impacted Sogolon by heightening her sense of isolation and vulnerability. Sassouma's disdain, stemming from her jealousy and social status, exacerbates Sogolon’s struggles as a single mother and outsider. This societal pressure forces Sogolon to navigate a harsh environment where her worth and identity are constantly challenged, ultimately shaping her resilience and determination to protect her son, Sundiata.
Pressure from Sassouma Berete and the community has significantly affected Sogolon by intensifying her isolation and vulnerability. Sassouma's jealousy and manipulation have led to Sogolon being ostracized, which exacerbates her struggles as a marginalized figure within the society. This social pressure influences Sogolon's actions and decisions, shaping her resilience and determination to protect her children, particularly Sundiata, from the same fate of rejection. Ultimately, the community's dynamics highlight Sogolon's strength in adversity while underscoring the challenges faced by women in her position.
Sassouma makes fun of Sogolon and her son, Sundiata, due to her jealousy and insecurity regarding Sogolon's status and the prophecy surrounding Sundiata's future greatness. Sassouma, who is the favorite wife of the king, feels threatened by Sogolon and her son's potential to challenge her own children’s claim to power. Her mockery serves to assert her dominance and belittle Sogolon and Sundiata, reflecting the rivalry and tension between the two women in the story.
Sogolon, Mari Djata's mother, plays the role of the motivator for Mari. It is destined that Mari will overcome his physical incapability's and found a great Empire. But in order to overcome his incapability's he needed an influence, and this is where Sogolon stepped in. One day after being admonished by Sassouma, Sogolon goes crying to Mari which motivates him to overcome his feat in which he is succesful. Sassouma represents the spark that ignites this chain. In other words it starts with Sassouma, who dishonors Sogolon, who then goes crying to Mari, who because of his mothers disappointment is motivated to finally overcome his physical conflict with his legs.
The other co-wives want to destroy Sogolon's baby because they see it as a threat to their own status and position within the household. Sogolon's child is prophesied to be powerful and destined for greatness, which incites jealousy and fear among the other wives. Their desire to eliminate this perceived rival stems from a deep-rooted competition for favor and security within the family structure. This conflict highlights themes of rivalry, jealousy, and the struggle for power in a polygamous setting.
Sundiata Keita, the founder of the Mali Empire, is historically known to have married several wives, with his most notable spouse being Sogolon Kedjou. Sogolon was the mother of Sundiata's heir, Mansa Uli, and played a significant role in his life and legacy. Additionally, Sundiata's marriages were politically motivated, aimed at strengthening alliances with various families and tribes within his empire.
In the story "Lion's Awakening" from the epic of Sundiata, Sogolon uses a piece of wood to strike her son, Sundiata, as a way to ignite his potential and encourage him to rise against the challenges he faces. This act symbolizes a mother's desperation and hope for her child's greatness, reminding him of his royal lineage and the strength he possesses. The action serves as a catalyst for Sundiata's transformation into a powerful leader, emphasizing the themes of perseverance and destiny in the narrative.
Sundiata helps his anguished mother, Sogolon, by using his strength and determination to overcome the challenges and curses placed upon him since birth. After being ridiculed and marginalized due to his physical disability, he ultimately rises to fulfill his destiny as a leader. He embarks on a journey to reclaim his rightful place and avenge his family, thus restoring honor and dignity to his mother. Through his actions, Sundiata not only uplifts Sogolon but also unites their people, bringing hope and prosperity back to his kingdom.
Sundiata Keita, Sundjata Keyita, Mari Djata I or just Sundiata (pronounced: soon-jah-tuh) (c. 1217 - c. 1255) was the founder of the Mali Empire and celebrated as a hero of the Malinke people of West Africa in the semi-historical Epic of Sundiata. Sundiata is also known by the name Sogolon Djata. The name Sogolon is taken from his mother, daughter of the buffalo woman (so called because of her ugliness and hunchback), and Jata, meaning "lion." A common Mande naming practice combines the mother's name with the personal name to give Sonjata or Sunjata. The last name Keita is a clan name more than a surname. The story of Sundiata is primarily known through oral tradition, transmitted by generations of traditional Mandinka griots. Sundiata was the son of Nare and Sogolon Conde. Growing up, the Mandinkas were conquered by king Soumaoro Kante of the Ghana Empire. He devoted his life to building an army to overthrow the king and liberating his homeland. When he was older and had a strong army, Sundiata did overthrow the king and became king of the Mali Empire. He understood that if he were to have a kingdom, he would need it to be prosperous as to keep strong. He had crops such as beans and rice, grown and soon introduced cotton. With the crops selling, the Mali Empire became very wealthy. Sundiata supported religion and soon took the titleMansa. After he died, many rulers also took the title mansa, to show their role and authority in society.
Sundiata, the legendary hero of the Mali Empire, initially could not walk due to a physical disability attributed to his birth. His mother, Sogolon, sought out various treatments and healers, but Sundiata's condition did not improve immediately. It wasn't until he was encouraged by his mother and motivated by a desire to defend his family and reclaim his rightful place that he ultimately found the strength to rise and walk. This pivotal moment symbolizes his resilience and the power of determination against adversity.
Sumanguru did not kill young Sundiata because he was aware of a prophecy that foretold Sundiata would eventually rise to challenge his power and become a great leader. Instead of eliminating Sundiata, Sumanguru chose to exile him, believing that distance would neutralize the threat. Additionally, Sundiata's mother, Sogolon, had a protective charm that may have deterred Sumanguru from taking violent action against her son. Ultimately, this decision allowed Sundiata to grow and gather supporters, setting the stage for his eventual return and triumph over Sumanguru.
He was an African warrior whose conquests laid the foundation for the Empire of Mali in West Africa. Sundiata's rise to power is told in the Epic of Sundiata, an orally transmitted song passed down through generations via griots.Sundiata was crippled from childhood and his mother (Songolon) was the subject of ridicule among her co-wives. She was constantly teased and ridiculed openly for her son's disability. This significantly affected Sundiata and he was determined to do everything he possibly could in order to walk like his peers. Through this determination, he one day miraculously got up and walked. Among his peers, he became a leader. His paternal half-brother, Dankaran Touman, and Dankaran's mother, Sassouma Bereté, were cruel and resentful of Sundiata and his mother. Their cruelty escalated after the death of Naré Maghann (the king). To escape persecution and threats on her son's life, Sogolon took her children, Sundiata and his sisters, into exile. This exile lasted for many years and took them to different countries within the Ghana Empire and eventually to Mema where the king of Mema granted them asylum. Sundiata was admired by the King of Mema for his courage and tenacity. As such, he was given a senior position within the kingdom. When King Soumaoro Kanté of Sosso conquered the Mandinka people, messengers were sent to go and look for Songolon and her children, as Sundiata was destined to be a great leader according to prophecy. Upon finding him in Mema they persuaded him to come back in order to liberate the Mandinkas and their homeland. On his return, he was accompanied by an army given to him by the King of Mema. Thewarlords of Mali at the time who were his age group included : Tabon Wana, Kamadia Kamara (or Kamadia Camara), Faony Condé, Siara Kuman Konaté and Tiramakhan Traore (many variations : "Trimaghan" or "Tiramaghan", future conqueror of Kaabu). It was on the plain of Siby (var: Sibi) where they formed a pact brotherhood in order to liberate their country and people from the powerful Sosso king. At The Battle of Kirina, Sundiata and his allies defeated the Sosso king and 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 of Kings in theMandinka language).