Sundiata Keita

About Sundiata Keita

Who is it?: Founder of Mali Empire
Birth Year: 1217
Birth Place: Niani, Part of Present-day Guinea, African
Reign: c. 1235 – c. 1255
Coronation: Crowned Mansa after The Battle of Kirina: c. 1235
Predecessor: Naré Maghann Konaté and Dankaran Touman both as Faamas (Kings in Mandinka language – pre-Imperial Mali. As a Mansa (King of Kings), preceded by none).
Heir-apparent: Mansa Uli I
Issue: Mansa Wali Keita Mansa Ouati Keita Mansa Khalifa Keita Mansa Sundiata Keita also had daughters not just sons.
Full name: Full name Mansa Sundiata Keita Mansa Sundiata Keita
House: The Royal House of Keita
Father: Naré Maghann Konaté
Mother: Sogolon Condé
Religion: Some say Traditional African religion others claim Muslim

Sundiata Keita

Sundiata Keita was born on 1217 in Niani, Part of Present-day Guinea, African, is Founder of Mali Empire. Sundiata Keita, also known as Sun Djata, Mari Djata, Manding Diara, Sogolon Djata, Lion of Mali, son of Sogolon, Sogo Sogo Simbon Salaba, and Nare Maghan, was the founder of the Mali Empire. He adopted the title of Mansa, meaning Emperor. The Walt Disney film, ‘Lion King’ is said to be inspired by his legend. He was born a cripple to the second wife of Nara Maghann Konata who ruled Kangaba. However, through his courage and conviction he overcame his disability and surpassed all odds to become a great leader and administrator. After being exiled by his half-brother, he returned to his homeland to liberate it from the tyrannical rule of Soumaoro Kante of Sosso, who had invaded Kangaba. He went on to expand his territory by conquering the great Empire of Ghana and establishing his capital in Niani. Sundiata was a brave warrior and statesman. He brought in political stability by gaining the confidence of various warlords and chieftains whom he allowed to operate independently, under his rule. He appeased his subjects by following tribal rituals and customs as per their belief. Though he was a Muslim, he did not impose his religion on anyone. Under him Niani flourished as a centre of trade and commerce to become one of the most important towns in West Africa. His Empire prospered till the rule of his grandnephew, Mansa Musa, after whom the Keita dynasty came to an ebbed.
Sundiata Keita is a member of Historical Personalities

Some Sundiata Keita images

Biography/Timeline

1994

From a global perspective, the Epic of Sundiata and the Mali Empire is taught in many schools, colleges and universities, not just in West Africa but in many parts of the World. Some scholars such as Ellen Snodgrass, and others have observed similarities with the 13th-century Epic of Sundiata to Walt Disney's 1994 animated film, "The Lion King" (the inspiration behind The Lion King's franchises such as Lion King, the musical, etc.). Disney has maintained that the film was inspired by william Shakespeare's Hamlet.

1995

1995 Burkinabe movie Keïta! l'Héritage du griot tells the legend of Sundiata Keita.

2013

A strong army was a major contributor to the success of Imperial Mali during the reign of Mansa Sundiata Keita. Credit to Mali's conquests cannot all be attributed to Sundiata Keita but equally shared among his generals, and in this, Tiramakhan Traore stood out as one of the elite generals and Warlords of Sundiata's Imperial Mali. However, in a wider perspective of 13th century West African military history, Sundiata stood out as a great leader who was able to command the loyalties of his generals and army.

2019

In the epic of Sundiata, Sundiata claims "an ancestral origin among the companions of Muhammad in Mecca" (namely, Bilal Ibn Rabah) and speaks of himself as a successor to Dhu al-Qarnayn, a conqueror and king mentioned in the Quran, commonly regarded as a reference to Alexander the Great. In exile, Sundiata learns about Islam when he travels to the city of the Cissés, and returns wearing Muslim robes. It is mentioned that there was "only one mosque" in Niani, Sundiata’s hometown, but we can also see the invocation of "Allah Almighty" by Sundiata’s mother, indicating that Islamic terms, at least, were known. Although it is unknown whether Sundiata was actually Muslim, it is clear that the epic of Sundiata was affected by what Ralph Austen calls "Islamicate" culture—that is, the integration of Islamic and Arab culture by inhabitants of the region, whether they are Muslim or not.

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