Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali

This is a novelisation of the origin myth for the empire of Mali, the tale of its founder and first ruler, Sundiata Keita, “king of kings”. Based on a 13th century oral epic, Sundiata the novel is introduced as “primarily the work of an obscure griot,” and it’s a story that has been passed down for over 800 years via the spoken word. It’s a heroic tale, mixing history and legend, and full of political intrigue. A fascinating read, although at times you might feel that all creation myths have a touch of the tedious about them.