Sundiata Pt 2.

Sundiata Becomes a Man

I find it so interesting that Sundiata becomes a man very differently than other character’s we’ve read. Telemahkos is prompted by Athena and Oedipus is prompted by running away from prophecies that he will murder his father. Sundiata, on the other hand, becomes a man at the ripe age of seven. After being ridiculed for being unable to walk for seven years, Sundiata takes it upon himself to do so to rectify his mother’s honor. While other characters needed to be pushed to grow up or ran away and “grew up” in the sense that they were now on their own, Sundiata grew up on his own terms. It is obvious that Sundiata decided to walk on his own because when his mother was frustrated with him when she was disrespected, he was unphased by her anger. He simply asked her what she would like done about the situation, heard her out, and then acted according to what he decided was best. Later, when is called back to Mali it is the same thing. He was exiled but when travelers need his aid to save Mali he agrees with no hesitation. Although he has a good position on Mema and he could be angry with his people for the exile, instead, he hears them out and the comes up with his solution. Even though he heard out the travelers, the idea to go back to Mali was still his. If he was swayed by what people said then when the King got angry that he wanted to leave and threatened that he could not bury his mom in Mema, he simply would have stayed out of fear and grief. Instead, Sundiata threatens the King with war when he gets back to Mali and rescues it from Soumaoro. Despite the situation, Sundiata always makes decisions based on what he thinks best and what he feels like doing. He has been his own man since the day he decided to walk, probably even before that because everyone wanted him to walk and he decided to do his own thing.