DOI: 10.25592/uhhfdm.10556
title: An Account on Sunjata Keeta (NCAC_RDD_TAPE_0247A_B)

description: <strong>This record will soon be published.</strong><strong>Sunjata Versus Sumanguru</strong>

 

The Keita clan were the rulers of Manding but Susu Sumanguru seized the power for 15 years and he killed 15 appointed rulers in Manding.

 

It was claimed by the sorcerers that a ruler would emerge from Muhamadou Konateh’s family.

Sunjata and his brother were both born on the same day.  Sunjata’s brother’s birth was announced before him and that made him the older brother but Sunjata was born before him.

Sunjata was born with teeth in his mouth and sorcerers claimed that he would become a ruler in Manding.

The Sano last names came from Manding and the are praised as Sano Dukara.

The Sanneh clan include Sanneh Malung who are from Kiang Kayaf, Sanneh Darboe are from Jarra and they are the descendants of Sheik Mustafa from Dasilameh.

Sanneh Balamang are from Kabu Dabantang.  Kelemantokoba Sanneh is from Kiramang.  Sanneh and Manneh last names are both from the same parents.  The descendants of Tiramankang.  Sanneh Buwarou are mainly Fulas.

*

All of Sunjata’s age mates walked before him.  He was lame and can’t do much as others could do.

His mother was there without a helper to get her baobab leaves and people use to humiliate her for having a lame child.

Sunjata was angered by that and he sent for the blacksmiths to make him iron crutches.  When they were made he used them and went for the baobab leaves and brought the whole baobab tree for his mother.  This was one of the miracles he did.

When his father died he stayed with the family until he grew up with his sister.  He later left with his mother and sister to live with Fari Brayma Tunkara.

While they were there his mother got ill and later died.  When she died Fari Brayma the ruler asked Sunjata to pay for his mother’s grave yard, which Sunjata did along with signs of a revenge against Fari Brayma.

Sunjata later left with his sister to Darbola.  He found them at the town square (Bantaba) going round a silk cotton tree doing some sort of ritual.  They welcome him and put him to a test to know his capability.  The Darbo chief fired a shot and asked Sunjata to fire.  Sunjata did and his shot cut off the branch of the tree.

The ruler slapped him and he wanted to revenge but his sister stopped him.  Sunjata grab the ruler’s wrist and pointed to his head and that caused all his hairs to fall off.  That resulted in many Darbo clan members having bald head.

*Ebrima Njai

Ebrima Njai came from Kajor and settled in Marsasu in Casssamance.  He was mainly trading but while doing business he mobilized a holy war (jihad) against the people of Foni region and Kombo.  He conquered Foni and continued to Kombo where he met Kombo Sillah another Jihadist, who asked him to go into a joined war.  He refused to joined Kombo Sillah and continued to attack the non-believers in Kombo.

The people of Kombo attacked him between Kembuje and Kunkujang while his people from Saloum were in Lamin coming to support him.  He fought with Kombo and he was defeated and killed and the rest of his men fled to the provinces.  Among them was Sainey Sonkoba who went to settle at Bantanto.

 

<strong>References to entities made in the recording</strong>

<strong>Culture:  </strong>Mandinka 

<strong>Language:  </strong>Mandinka

<strong>Persons:  </strong>Susu Sumanguru, Muhamadou Konateh, Sunjata, Tiramankang and

Fari Brayma Tunkara, Sheik Mustafa, Kelemantokoba Sanneh and Sainey Sonkoba

<strong>Relationships:</strong>

Sunjata and his brother were both born on the same day

<strong>Places:  </strong>Kiang Kayaf, Dasilameh, Kiramang and Darbola

<strong>Movements:</strong>

Sunjata moved from Manding to Fari Brayma Tunkara

<strong>Actions:</strong>

The ruler of Darbola slapped him after winning the test and he wanted to revenge but his sister stopped him

Sunjata grab the ruler’s wrist and pointed to his head and that caused all his hairs to fall off

Sussu Sumanguru seized Manding and ruled them over 15 years

<strong>Time references:</strong>

During the Manding Empire

<strong>Additional information:</strong>

As the narrator was asked the question about Ebrima Njai he switch into the story about Ebrima and later got back to the history of Sunjata Keita.

<sup><em>Alternative names: Jobarteh, Jobarte, Jobate, Amadou, Sidibeh, Bakary, Bakari, Bakery, Kebba, Keita, Kaita, Keyta</em></sup>
description: Published by NCAC-National Digital Archive of The Gambia, initiated by University of Hamburg, Asia-Africa-Institute, Germany, funded by Gerda Henkel Foundation, Germany