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Role Of Women In Sundiata

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When it comes to the places and roles of women in Sundiata and in Malian society as depicted in the book Sundiata, women are held in a place very much unattached and unequal to men. Their roles, throughout the book, are defined only in relationship to men who hold higher positions of authority and often control the women with whom they are in relations with. Basically, the book takes place in a sort of patriarchal society while allowing women very few rights and powers. Like I had said before, they essentially view the women as their relations and not very much anything else. In this society women are also excluded from official positions of power. To begin with, the epic in fact is related by a man, and there is not one indication of any woman griots anywhere within the novel. Right after a recitation of the kings of Mali leading up to Maghan Kon Fatta (Sundiata's father), a female character is mentioned for the first time: "Oh that woman! She is ugly, she is hideous, and she bares on her back a disfiguring hump. Her monstrous eyes seem to have been merely laid on her face, but, mystery of mysteries, this is the woman you must marry, sire, for she will be the mother of him who will make the name of Mali immortal forever" (Sundiata, 6). Seemingly right after the first female character is introduced, she is "picked apart" describing her physical appearance, and then to her what would be future roles of wife and mother. Admittedly, the prior is certainly to provide contrast

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