Corpus of Early Accounts of the Sunjata Epic, 1889-1959

The Sunjata epic is a foundational oral narrative for Manding populations of West Africa, recorded during the colonial period and translated into English. It is a historical source and artistic creation of West African oral specialists, the griots.

Format: Hardback
Length: 410 pages
Publication date: 03 August 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

The Sunjata epic is a vital oral narrative that holds immense significance for the Manding populations of West Africa, and it purports to provide a historical account of the origins of the renowned medieval empire of Mali. This epic is a remarkable blend of historical facts and artistic craftsmanship, crafted by the skilled oral specialists known as the griots (jèliw). Despite its profound importance, the Sunjata epic has remained relatively unknown to Anglophone non-specialists, with only a limited number of accounts published after 1960. To address this gap, the Corpus of Early Accounts of the Sunjata Epic, 1889-1959 presents a collection of twenty understudied versions of the epic, recorded during the colonial period. These sources, previously published in French and German colonial periodicals, are now translated into English, accompanied by scholarly introductions that offer valuable insights into the historical context and intended purposes of each version. By presenting these sources in a readily accessible format, this corpus enables readers to delve into the rich tapestry of the Sunjata epic and gain a deeper understanding of its historical and cultural significance.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197267387