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Butler Journal of Undergraduate Research

Abstract

This paper examines Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali through the lens of the hero’s journey, tracing the boyhood, exile, and transformation of Sundiata as he prepares to restore Mali to peace and prosperity. Leadership is both an individual calling and a communal responsibility; true rulers depend not only on personal strength but also on the support and guidance of others. While in exile, Sundiata receives military, political, and supernatural training, all of which shape his identity as the epic’s hero and equip him to achieve his destiny. These trials mirror the stages of growth and preparation found in scripture. Accordingly, I situate Sundiata in dialogue with biblical narratives, highlighting parallels between Sundiata’s role as the promised child and the future savior of Mali with the ministry of Jesus Christ. Through this lens, I note the importance of prophecy, discipleship, and transformation within the narrative. This reading grounds the epic’s fantastic and heroic elements in a framework of moral, spiritual, and communal significance, in which Sundiata embodies both the hero of tradition and a figure whose journey resonates with biblical models of divine purpose and leadership.

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