African Proverbs – from Sundiata – p. 128 Name______

  1. What are griots?
  2. Why do proverbs play an important role in cultures?
  3. Who was Sundiata?
  4. Sundiata might be considered what today?
  5. How much of the story is true?
  6. Who is the folklorist who wrote the Sundiata tale?
  7. P.129 –What is an epic? What is an epic conflict?
  8. P. 130 – Do you agree with the Uganda proverbs? Why or Why not?
  9. Liberia – What are children?
  10. South Africa – Which proverb is your favorite? Why?
  11. Ghana – Why would one not teat a river with two feet?
  12. Nigeria – Which proverb can you apply to school? Explain.
  13. Tanzania and Kenya – do you with not saying the first thing that comes to your mind? Why or why not?
  14. P. 131 – Questions 1 and 5 a and b

p. 132 – Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali

1. What were rival kings trying to control?

2. What does SogolonDjata’s battle echo?

3. Childhood – According to the story is fate changeable?

4. What effect does Sogolon’s son illness have on his childhood?

5. What was he in such of? What is he described as?

6. How is does Mari Djata differ from a three year old child?

7. p. 135 – What does the proverb about the silk cotton tree suggest will the outcome of Mari Djata’s childhood conflict?

8. What special talent does Sogolon use to try to heal her son?

9. Who was Namandje? What was special about her?

10. p. 136 – What does every prince have?

11. Who is made the griot?

12. The Lion’s Awakening – What three events succeed in shifting more power to Mari Djata’s enemies? Explain.

13. Who was proclaimed king? Who was all powerful?

14. Why was Sogolon’s son not given the throne?

15. p. 137 - What two people were banished? Where were they banished to?

16. What are gnougous?

17. What is baobab leaf used for?

18. How old is SogolonDjata when DankaranTouman is pronounced king?
19. In what why is the young MariDjata in conflict with his own society?

20. p. 138 –What did the mother do to her son?

21. What did Mari Djata request from the smith?

22. What did his mother want?
23. Who is BallaFasseke? (see p. 135)

24. p. 139 –Who was old Nounfari? What was carried to Sogolon’s house?

25. What did BallaFasseke start to do?

26. What does Farrakourou use to help Sogolon stand?

27. What did the son of Sogolon do?

Critical Reading Questions:

1 and 2 a.b.c. and 6 a.b.

p. 141- question 5 and 8