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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