Soundiata is a story of the Lion King. It is part of the oral storytelling tradition in West African culture. This story specifically comes from the Mali Empire or Mandinka Empire, which dominated West Africa from around 1230 to 1600 CE. The North African scholar Ibn Battuta visited it in 1352. He described it as "a place where injustice was not tolerated and in which people could be absolutely safe, having nothing to fear thieves or violent men.”[1] The story of Sundiata shares similarities with the Epic of Gilgamesh. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay In the story, Sundiata is a young boy whose mother was part beast. She married the king of Mali, Naré Maghann Konaté, as part of a prophecy received by the king. Maghann wanted Sundiata to take over, but his other wife was jealous and wanted her son to be king. After the king's death, the other wife ignored Maghann's wishes. Sundiata, who spent most of her life weak and unable to even walk, was driven by her wickedness and stood up for the first time. An evil sorcerer soon took over and Sundiata and her mother went into exile. Sundiata returned with the intention of killing the sorcerer. He succeeded thanks to his strategic plan which led him to stand out “for his strong will, which allowed him to overcome the physical limitations he faced as a child; for his courage, which allowed him to defeat his enemies; for the wisdom he showed in figuring out how to defeat his enemy; and for the tolerance and justice with which he administered his empire. In many ways, he is the model of a just ruler, of what a man and a king should be. »[2] This story is similar to that of Gilgamesh in that they are both epics about kings who go on a journey. There is also magic and animals involved, they both traveled with deceased companions, and Enkidu was part beast like Sundiata's mother who was a buffalo woman. However, this contrasts with Gilgamesh – the protagonists being the main difference. Sundiata only became king after his heroic return while Gilgamesh was always king. Gilgamesh was never weak. He was actually quite vain. The purpose of his journey was not for the good of the kingdom but to gain glory. Also, he traveled with Enkidu, his double, "his second self, a man who matches his strength and his courage, a man who matches his stormy heart", while Sundiata traveled with his mother. Gilgamesh's journey showed his maturity in a different light. He went from arrogance to sobriety and became a great king, while Sundiata was always a good person who made friends wherever he went "for it is said that the wealth and worth of a man are are measured by the friends he has, and he who has his friends has a treasure in reserve for difficult times. »[4] He had to face the jealousy and doubts of others. Sundiata's journey towards maturity allowed him to prove himself and in turn become a great king. Gilgamesh made enemies after killing Humbaba. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay In the end, they both became great kings. Gilgamesh and Sundiata are epics from heroic journey to heroic return that can convey a message to the audience. They carry themes of bravery and humility. The insight these tales shed on the cultures from which they come is as invaluable as the..