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Epic of Sundiata

tells of the 13th century; handed down orally; first written summaries, in Arabic, before 1890 · 13th century · Also known as ߛߏ߲߬ߖߘߊ߬, Sònjàdà

The Epic of Sundiata is an epic poem of the Malinke people about Sundiata Keita, the founder of the Mali Empire in West Africa, who ruled from 1235 until his death in 1255. It has been told for generations by griots, or jelis, the traditional oral historians of the Mande world, and it is foundational to Mande culture.

Songs in history

Epic of Sundiatac. 1255

See also

Cite this entry

APA: The Epoch Institute. (2026). Epic of Sundiata. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/epic-of-sundiata
MLA: “Epic of Sundiata.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/epic-of-sundiata. Accessed .
Chicago: The Epoch Institute. “Epic of Sundiata.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/epic-of-sundiata.
Harvard: The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Epic of Sundiata’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/epic-of-sundiata (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻