The Real Story behind the Lion King

How did a boy who could not walk become the ruler of one of the largest and richest empires in Africa? This is the story of Sundiata Keita, the Lion King of Mali. His journey is full of adventure, courage, and magic.

Introduction

Long ago, in the land of Mali, there was a small and beautiful kingdom called Kangaba. The king of Kangaba was Magan Kon Fatta, a descendant of a noble line of hunters. In those days, hunters were revered as special people who could talk to the spirits that controlled the fate of humans. Magan became the king of Kangaba in the year 1200, around the time Islam had started to spread across Mali. Magan embraced this new religion but also respected the old traditions of his ancestors.

The Prophecy

One night, Magan's friend and adviser, Mamudu Kuate, had a strange and vivid dream. He dreamed of a sky filled with stars and a rising sun that soon began to fade, causing the stars to fall like sparks. He saw a majestic black lion and a woman with a hump on her back standing beside the king. The lion let out a mighty roar that woke Mamudu from his sleep. Puzzled by his dream, Mamudu decided to tell the king and the elders of the kingdom.

He went to the royal court and said, "I have seen a prophecy in my dream. Two warriors will come to this kingdom with a humpback woman. The king will marry this woman, and they will have a son. He will be the Lion King of our land. He will free his people from tyranny and make this kingdom famous in the world."

The elders were shocked and outraged by Mamudu's words, deeming it blasphemy. But Magan Kon Fatta and his wise griot believed Mamudu's dream was a message from the spirits and remembered it in their hearts.

The Arrival of the Prophecy

A few years later, two hunters from the kingdom of Doe came to Kangaba with a humpback woman. Recognizing them as the fulfillment of the prophecy, Magan welcomed them. The hunters explained, "Greetings, O king of Kangaba. We have brought you a divine gift from the land of Doe. A fearsome buffalo terrorized the land of Doe, killing many hunters and people. We fought bravely and killed the buffalo, saving the land from its menace. The king of Doe gave us this woman as a reward. She is Sogolon Kedu, the Buffalo Woman. She has special powers and can help your kingdom. Please accept our gift and let us go on our way."

Magan agreed and took Sogolon as his wife, honoring the prophecy. However, the people of Kangaba were unhappy with this marriage, considering it a disgrace to the royal family. The most unhappy of all was Sasuma Berete, the king's first wife, who feared that her son would lose his chance to become king. She hated Sogolon and her unborn child.

The Birth of Sundiata

Magan grew to love Sogolon, and she soon became pregnant with his child. Magan was overjoyed and eagerly awaited the birth of the prophesied Lion King. But Sasuma was furious, determined to ensure her son Dankaran Tuman would inherit the throne. She tried to kill Sogolon, but the Buffalo Woman's powers protected her. Instead, Sasuma resorted to verbal harassment and public humiliation.

Sogolon could not bear the insults and spent most of her pregnancy hiding near a sacred baobab tree believed to have magical powers. When the time came for Sogolon to deliver her baby, she miraculously found refuge inside the tree, safely giving birth to Sundiata.

Many supernatural signs accompanied Sundiata's birth, such as the appearance of mysterious animals and the darkening of the sky, seen as omens of his future greatness. Everyone celebrated except for Sasuma, who scorned Sundiata's apparent weaknesses.

The Trials of Sundiata

To everyone's astonishment, Sundiata could not speak and was lazy, gluttonous, and ugly. At three years old, he still could not walk and barely spoke. Sasuma Berete was delighted, mocking him as a crawling child unworthy of respect.

Sogolon tried various potions and herbs to cure her son for seven years, but nothing worked. Sundiata always dragged himself to the palace, ignored or mocked by others. Heartbroken, Sogolon endured, and Magan was deeply troubled and disappointed. How could this weak child become a great king?

The king's adviser and griots encouraged Magan, believing these difficulties were tests of greatness. One day, Magan called his son to come before him, saying, "My time is running out, Sundiata. Now I must give you the gift that every king gives his heir. This is Bala Fasseke. As his father has been my griot, so will his son be yours. From him, you will learn the history of your ancestors and the laws of this life. May your destiny be fulfilled, my son."

After the king's words, Sundiata crawled slowly to Bala Fasseke and spoke his first words, "Bala, you are my griot." Suddenly, Magan's doubts vanished as he prepared Sundiata to rule. But when the king died, the council of elders ignored his last wishes and made Dankaran Tuman, Sasuma's son, the new king.

The Rise of Sundiata

One day, Sogolon needed some leaves from the mighty baobab tree for her cooking and decided to ask Sasuma for some. Sasuma seized the chance to mock Sundiata as a worthless child. Unable to stand the insult, Sogolon returned to Sundiata, angry and crying. Sundiata, seeing his mother's tears, declared, "Don't worry, Mother. I am going to walk today."

He immediately called Bala Fasseke to bring him a heavy iron rod. Grabbing the rod, Sundiata pushed it to the ground, lifted himself up with shaky legs, and bent the iron rod into a bow before it snapped into two. Sundiata stood up by himself, stunning the witnesses. "Make way, make way!" shouted Bala Fasseke. "The lion is walking!"

Frightened by Sundiata's newfound strength, Sasuma plotted to kill him. She summoned the nine great witches of Mali, but their magic was powerless against Sundiata's kind heart. Realizing her schemes had failed, Sasuma sent Bala Fasseke and Nana, Sundiata's half-sister, to the court of Soumaoro Kante, the sorcerer king of Sosso, a feared ruler with powerful magic.

Exile and Return

When Sundiata learned of the exile of his griot and sister, he agreed with his mother to leave Mali and go into exile to protect themselves from Sasuma's hatred. For seven years, they wandered from kingdom to kingdom, enduring hardships and growing stronger. Eventually, they reached the city of Mema, where Sundiata won the favor of the king, joining him in wars and learning the ways of war and governance. The king of Mema made Sundiata his heir, treating him as a son.

Meanwhile, in Mali, Soumaoro Kante had invaded, forcing the king and his mother into hiding. Messengers from Mali, disguised as traders, found Sundiata and pleaded with him to return and save his people from tyranny. Moved by their words, Sundiata prepared to return, but his mother, Sogolon, passed away before his departure.

The Final Battle

With a large army from Mema and additional warriors from allied kingdoms, Sundiata launched a surprise attack on Soumaoro's troops, routing them and forcing Soumaoro to flee. Sundiata knew he needed more than just military strength to defeat Soumaoro, so he consulted soothsayers who advised a sacrifice of 100 white oxen, rams, and roosters to harness supernatural powers.

During the ritual, Bala Fasseke and Nana returned, having escaped from Soumaoro. Nana revealed Soumaoro's secret: his powers were tied to the white rooster, and its spur could break his magic. With this knowledge, Sundiata made a special arrow tipped with a white rooster spur.

The final showdown took place at the Battle of Kirina. The night before, Sundiata and Soumaoro exchanged ritual boasts, making their intentions clear. The next day, Sundiata's forces overwhelmed Soumaoro's army. Sundiata aimed his special arrow, hitting Soumaoro and causing him to flee. Pursued by Sundiata and Bala Fasseke, Soumaoro vanished into his dark cave, never to be seen again.

The Birth of an Empire

With Soumaoro's defeat, Sundiata returned to Mali triumphantly. He invited the twelve kings who had helped him to a grand gathering in the city of Niani, where he proclaimed the unification of their kingdoms into a great empire.

"Hatred drove me from this land because of what I seemed to be—a crawling child unworthy of respect and unfit to rule. Mali has suffered great hardship as a result. Now I return as your king. From now on, none shall interfere with another's destiny. You, your children, and your children's children shall find their appointed place within this land forever."

The twelve kings drew their spears and bowed before him, swearing allegiance forever. Thus, the new Empire of Mali was born, stretching from the forests of the south far into the Sahara Desert north of the Great River Niger. Sundiata, the Lion King, ruled for many golden years, ensuring prosperity for his people.

The Legacy of Sundiata Keita

Sundiata Keita's empire, Mali, grew to become one of Africa's greatest, known for its wealth, culture, and learning. Sundiata's reign marked the beginning of a period of stability and prosperity. The story of his rise from a disabled child to a mighty king is celebrated in songs, stories, and historical records, inspiring generations. His legacy as the Lion King of Mali endures, symbolizing resilience, courage, and the power of destiny.

Sundiata's journey shows that greatness often comes from overcoming immense challenges. His story teaches us about the importance of perseverance, kindness, and the belief that anyone can achieve greatness, no matter their beginnings.