The Lion King - Sundiata Keita, Mali, Battle of Kirina, federation, griot The Lion King Sundiata Keita, Mali, Battle of Kirina, federation, griot Ghana and Mali in Medieval Africa Unit This article is brought to you by the years 1235 to 1255 C.E.! Have you heard the story of the Lion King? No, I do not mean the lion who sings songs with a bunch of cartoon animals. I mean the story of the boy who could not walk and rose to rule over the great Mali Empire in Africa. If you have not heard this story, you are in luck. I am a griot, a storyteller and musician who tells history through stories that have been passed down for hundreds of years. I heard this story from someone else who heard it from someone else who heard it from someone else and on and on for hundreds of years. You can decide what is true and what is not. Sit back and leave all the thoughts of lions and roars behind. This is the story of the real Lion King. Our story starts a thousand years ago, in West Africa. South of the largest sandy desert in the world, the Sahara, there was a winding river. Villages and tribes grew around this river like corn in a field, but they were not all under one person for a long time. That is, until the lion king. Mali became the largest empire in West Africa and ruled over the gold and salt trade from 1230 to 1600 C.E. Trade made the people rich and the flow of ideas in and out with the trade made it a great center for learning too. Today, it is also a country in Africa. The story of Mali's rise begins with a boy was born to the second wife of the king of Mali. This boy's legs did not work and sadly he could not stand. The king believed he would stay in bed for the rest of his life. The stories say the boy was so determined to see the world that he rose to his feet and walked. Sundiata Keita was the first emperor of Mali, ruling from 1235 to 1255 C.E. Many of his stories feel like stories that could not be true. But that did not matter, because his people believed in the stories and in him. Either way, this boy turned Mali into the strongest empire in West Africa. That is why he was called the Lion Over 500 more free History and Science articles are waiting to inspire your students at Rocketlit Page 2 The Lion King - Sundiata Keita, Mali, Battle of Kirina, federation, griot King. Of course, many people are afraid of lions. The king's other wives did not like how much the king loved this son. After the king died, these other women tried to kill the lion boy. So his mother took him away to another country where he grew into a great leader. After many years, he returned home and led his people against the Soso, who had taken over and were ruling most of the land. The Battle of Kirina was around 1235 C.E. when Sundiata led the people of Mali to a great victory against the Soso, killing their king and taking over their country. (The lion may or may not have let out a roar after they won.) This was only the beginning. Yes, Mali had killed its enemies and now ruled over the gold and salt trade, but it needed a leader to become something great. Because he had taken many trips through his land, the lion knew this land better than the leaders who had tried to run it before him. He knew that the tribe leaders knew the best way to rule their people. He did not need to rule them, he only needed peace and to be able to work together. Everyone liked to live with different rules, and Sundiata thought about this when he became leader of Mali. Some were joined after they lost battles, but some joined peacefully. A federation is when many leaders work together but each leader is able to lead their own people. Just as the lion lets the animals live the way that they need to. If you have not heard the story of the Lion King, listen to me. I am a griot, someone who tells stories. Sundiata Keita was known as the Lion King. He brought his land to become the strongest traders in West Africa of his time. He did this through the Battle of Kirina when he led his people to beat the people who ruled over them. After this, he ran his land as a federation, letting separate leaders speak for their people in court to choose the laws of the land. Stories do not agree about how the Lion King died, but some people say a movie may or may not have used his life story. Maybe you had heard this story after all . References: Britannica. "Sundiata Keita" britannica.com, 2016. <https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sundiata- Keita> Ducksters. "Empire of Ancient Mail" Ducksters, 2012. <http://www.ducksters.com/history/africa/empire_of_ancient_mali.php> Over 500 more free History and Science articles are waiting to inspire your students at Rocketlit Page 3 Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org).