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The Role of Women in Sundiata

The story of Sundiata was a legend that was passed down generations by word of mouth in Mali, Africa. The story is about the young prince Sundiata who was treated as an outcast at a young age but later came back to reclaim his place as the rightful heir to the throne. The book Sundiata: An Epic of Mali has different sections that suggest the different roles of men and women in the culture it is set in. Most examples show how women were subordinates, inferior members of the society treated like a commodity that could be given away as wives regardless if their opinion. Despite all these odds, these women go on to achieve greatness.

Throughout the book, men hold all positions of authority and included kings, rulers, hunters, warriors, and griots (Gries). Men held the most prestigious roles in society and were considered household heads. Men in this Mali society made decisions, went to war, and hunted for food. Women, on the other hand, would handle tasks such as gardening, gathering and preparing meals, and looking after homes. They had no much influence in decisions that affected their lives. They were considered a commodity by means of which they were treated. However, women in stark contrast to another side of this epic were depicted as powerful. The buffalo woman who has been terrorizing the village has a lot of power and influences the kingship of Mali. Sogolon, Sundiata’s mother, is not an ordinary woman. She does not bow to the wishes of the king to have her after the hunters gift her to him (Niane). It is not only when she gets unconscious that the king takes her and consummates their marriage. The act was cruel and showed how devalued women were in this kingdom and ascertained to the cruel treatment of women in this epic.

John Milton’s Paradise Lost, similar to Sundiata, tries to depict women as inferior to men. Eve in paradise lost is considered inferior because she was made out of Adam’s image. Milton looks into the Bible to draw the depiction of the women in the holy book (Milton). The Bible, according to Milton, speaks of women as subordinate to man the way man is subordinate to God. In the same way, women in Sundiata are considered inferior and of service to men as if they were created to serve their desires regardless. Paradise Lost also tries to depict a woman as inferior of mind. The author says that Eve leaves the conversation between Raphael and Adam because she is too shallow-minded to comprehend what the two men are discussing. The book continues to suggest that she would rather wait for Adam to explain to her and help her decipher their “thoughts abstruse” that she cannot fathom unless “intermixed with grateful digressions” and “conjugal caresses” of her partner (8.39-57).

Unlike Paradise Lost, Women drive the story in Sundiata. Although they are treated as a commodity and considered the weaker gender, their presence in the epic is apparent. In the beginning, the hunters would not be successful at slaying the buffalo is she did not let them and told them about the prophecy. Sologon would not have been the mother of a king if she did not resist the hunters. If she did not pressure Sundiata to walk, he probably would have remained a cripple. Sassouma also plays a part when she plots against Sundiata and Sologon, causing them to flee to exile. Nana also becomes the reason why Sundiata is king and helps him in his conquest for the throne.

Although Sundiata has countless instances of women being mistreated, they still stand out, by the way, they conduct themselves. They are exceptional mothers that are loyal to their families and culture. Sogolon does everything in her power to ensure the safety of her son from those that mean him harm (Khan). Sassouma is also an indication of power as she is able to send witches after Sundiata for she considered him a threat to the throne she considered her son’s right. Nana also proves loyalty to her brother and family by faking marriage and pretending to denounce his brother in order to learn the secrets of Soumaoro. The harsh treatment of women in this epic does not stop them from finding ways to stand out and show their heroic personalities. In the end, they appear majestic despite being condemned to a narrative of inferiority and dependence.

Works Cited

Gries, William. “The Role of Griots in Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali.” The Histories 2017 (complete volume) (2016).

Khan, Roshan Benjamin. “Images of mother in Ramayana and Sundiata. A comparative critique.” International Journal of English and Literature 3.4 (2013): 123-128.

Milton, J. (2005). Paradise lost. Hackett Publishing.

Niane, Djibril Tamsir. “Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali. 1965.” Trans. GD Pickett. Edinburgh: Pearson (2006).