Sundiata Keita

Sundiata Keita (c. 1217–c. 1255 CE): founder of the Mali Empire, known mainly from the oral epic preserved by griots.

West African / Sahelian

Overview

Sundiata is credited with defeating Sumanguru Kanté of the Sosso at the Battle of Kirina (traditionally dated c. 1235) and founding Mali, with Niani as a political centre. Our knowledge rests largely on oral tradition and later Arabic sources such as Ibn Khaldun, so dates are approximate and details legendary.