The Story of Sundiata--A Readers Theater Play
Characters:
Narrator 1: Sassouma
Narrator 2: Sundiata
Hunters (2): Balla
Sogolon: Sumanguru
King Maghan: Messengers (2)
Narrator 1:
Listen carefully and you will learn the famous story passed down by our ancestors of a great king, brave and true.
Narrator 2:
His name was Sundiata and for reasons you will soon find out he was known as the Lion King of Mali
Narrator 1:
There was once a powerful king named Maghan Kon Fatta. One day while sitting in court with his advisors, he saw two hunters come walking toward him with a hunchbacked woman walking between them. This scene looked exactly like a dream he had recently had and he felt his heart start to pound.
King Maghan:
(gasps and says) What do you want here?
Hunters:
(bowing before the king) Oh might king, we come from the land of Do, where a fierce buffalo had destroyed much of our land and placed fear in the hearts of our people. Finally, we destroyed this fearsome creature and our king has sent us to present you with a most powerful gift.
King Maghan:
And what gift might that be? I see only a crippled woman standing before me.
Hunters:
Your majesty, don't be deceived by appearances. Her name is Sogolon Kedjou and people say that inside of her she holds the buffalo's brave spirit.
Narrator 2:
King Maghan thought hard about this woman who stood hunched over before him. She could produce a worthy son, one who had within him the double strength of a lion, like him, and a buffalo, like her.
Narrator 1:
And so they were married and King Maghan's love for Sogolon grew and grew. A year later Sundiata was born and the people of the kingdom rejoiced.
Narrator 2:
That is, everyone except the king's first wife, Sassouma Berete.
Sassouma:
(scowling) Why all this celebration? The king already has a son, my son! It is he who will be the next king!
Narrator 1:
But soon Sassouma realized that she could rejoice about something. . .
Sassouma:
What's this? The king's new son cannot speak or walk? Ha! He will never be king!
Narrator 2:
For seven years Sundiata dragged himself along through the palace. No medicine would heal him and both the king and Sogolon had heavy hearts.
Bella:
Your majesty, be patient. Think of the small sprout that has to face many storms before it grows into a strong and sturdy tree. Sundiata will also grow strong, not according to your time-line, but according to his own.
Narrator 1:
The next day King Maghan called for his son, Sundiata.
King Maghan:
My son, my life is almost over. You are my heir and I want right now to give you a special gift, my griot, Balla Fasseke. Through his stories he will teach you all about the history of our people and the laws of life. Whatever you are destined for, may it come to pass.
Narrator 2:
His son then spoke for the first time.
Sundiata:
Balla, you are my griot.
Narrator 1:
The king sat back in his throne and was satisfied.
King Maghan:
(smiling) Now I will prepare my son to be the next ruler. He is ready!
Narrator 2:
Very sadly, when King Maghan died, things quickly changed and the council of elders chose not Sundiata but the son of Sassouma Berete to be the next king.
Sassouma:
(standing over Sogolon and teasing) Ha! It appears that a walking boy--my son, is a more suitable choice for a king than a crawling lion--your son!
Narrator 1:
When Sundiata saw his mother crying he called his griot to him.
Sundiata:
Run to the master smith and bring me back an iron rod!
Narrator 2:
Balla returned and handed the rod to Sundiata. Slowly and with great determination he lifted himself up to his feet, bending the rod as he did so. Then he pushed it away and stood by himself.
Balla:
(shouting) People, make way! You can see now that the lion is walking!
Narrator 1:
Sundiata had found his strength and many were amazed. Queen Sassouma became very worried and planned many ways to try and weaken him. When Sundiata was 10 years old, Sassouma sent his beloved griot away from Mali to the court of Sossa, where an evil king named Sumanguru lived. Sundiata felt both angry and sad about losing his friend.
Narrator 2:
But life was quickly becoming very dangerous for Sundiata and his mother.
Sogolon:
My son, we must leave our home now before we are hurt by the queen. She hates us with all of her heart! When you are grown, you will return to Mali and make everything right again.
Narrator 1:
So mother and son left behind all that they knew and loved.
Narrator 2:
For seven years they traveled from place to place. No ruler allowed them to stay long on their land because they feared the queen would seek revenge.
Narrator 1:
During this time, however, Sundiata grew in wisdom and strength. He never forgot about his long lost friend, Balla, who remained living in Sumanguru's expanding kingdom where people grew more and more unhappy under his harsh rule.
Narrator 2:
Sundiata and his mother, who was becoming very tired and sick, were finally allowed to stay in a city called Mema. In fact, the king there grew to admire Sundiata's courage and saw that he would be a great leader one day.
Narrator 1:
And so he decided to make Sundiata his heir to the throne and taught him all he knew about government and fighting battles.
Narrator 2:
One day two messengers from Mali came to Mema, insisting on speaking to Sundiata.
Messengers:
Oh son of lion and buffalo, please come home! The evil sorcerer king Sumanguru has invaded Mali. Our king and queen have run off, leaving our people without a leader to guide them. Come and claim the throne of your father! There is no time to waste!
Sogolon:
You must go now, my son, to fulfill your destiny!
Narrator 1:
Sundiata left immediately, equipped with half of the army that belonged to the king of Mema. As he journeyed home, he stopped at each kingdom along the way and gathered more soldiers to fight with him. It was said that the horses' hooves from his huge army sounded like thunder for miles around.
Narrator 2:
All at once Balla appeared at Sundiata's side.
Balla:
(hugging him) I have just escaped from the king's palace. I had hoped that by following Sumanguru's army, I would find you. All these years I have pretended to agree with this cruel ruler and in this way I was able to discover his weakness. (Holding up an arrow) On this arrow's tip is the tana of Sumanguru. It is a charm that this man believes will cause him to lose his power. All it has to do is touch him. Take this into battle with him (hands him the arrow).
Narrator 1:
And so he did. When Sundiata saw the sorcerer-king standing on a hill, he drew his bow and let the arrow fly.
Narrator 2:
The arrow just grazed Sumanguru's shoulder but it was enough. The evil king saw the tana on it, cried out and galloped away to a dark cave.
Sumanguru:
(looking around him, eyes wide with fear) Oh great powers, do not allow me to fall into Sundiata's hands! (He then freezes).
Narrator1:
It was then that this sorcerer-king turned into stone and became one with the wall of the cave. He was never seen or heard of again. Without their leader, his army was quickly defeated.
Narrator 2:
Sundiata returned to Mali and everyone cheered. All 12 kings who had supported him in battle swore their eternal allegiance to him.
Narrator 1:
Sundiata finally spoke.
Sundiata:
It was hatred that drove me away from my home because I was looked upon as a weakling, a child who could only crawl and who could never rule. Now I have returned to be your king! From now on, no one shall interfere with the destiny of another. Everyone will find his place in my kingdom!
Narrator 2:
And so Mali prospered and grew under the wise and loving leadership of Sundiata, the Lion King.