Sunjata
Although his mother is not always a royal virgin, she is (1) a special prize for slaying the Buffalo
of Du and has special occult powers. His father is (2) king and often a descendant of the Prophet
Muhammed. Several bizarre incidents (4) surround his conception and attempts (6) are made to
kill him in infancy or early childhood. As a young man he is (7) sent away in exile but eventually
(10) returns home to defeat (11) his antagonist Sumamuru. He becomes (13) king of the Manden
and prescribes laws (15) His death (18) is so sacred that it is never described and he has (22) a
holy sepulchre in the town of Niani.
11 points
This document was placed on the web by Professor Thomas J.
Sienkewicz for his students in CLAS230 Classical Mythology at Monmouth College,
Monmouth, Illinois. It is based upon material he has used in mythology classes
for many years, first at Howard University in Washington, D.C., and then at
Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois. If you have any questions, you may
contact him at toms@monm.edu.
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