Issiaka Diakite-Kaba

Soundjata, Le Lion: Le Jour Ou La Parole Fut Liberee: Sunjata, The Lion: The Day When The Spoken Word Was Set Free Issiaka Diakite-Kaba

African Drama/Play [ Bilingual: English-French ]

Sunjata, The Lion: The Day When The Spoken Word Was Set Free
Soundjata, Le Lion: Le Jour Où La Parole Fut Libérée

Through spoken words, music, call and response, jest, rhythmic utterance and declamation, the play vividly recreates the historical and epical journey of Sunjata, the genuine Lion King, unifier and founder of the 13th century Mali Empire. The legendary figure of Sunjata, the one who gave an official role to jali or the griot, the wordsmith and musical artist; also the one who, according to the tradition, with the help of the brotherhood of the master-hunters, at the beginning of his reign proclaimed in the Mandén Charter that: "The essence of slavery is extinct this day, from one wall to another, from one Mandén border to another," that legendary figure remains permanent and well alive throughout West African griot's accounts. To this day, the Sunjata Epic, as one of the greatest epic traditions of Africa, is still sung by Mandingo modern griots on the world performing stage. Here in this piece where spoken word and music, history and epic, legend and magical ritual are intrinsically interwoven, the iconic figure of Sunjata comes alive, accompanied by griots and griottes (masters and mistresses of spoken words and music), still emerging from a living and enduring culture thousands of years old, and still conveying a powerful and timeless significance in our modern era. Beyond the play, the eight hundred years old Sunjata Epic is still a social and cultural reality, a living performance told every seven years, on the sacred ground of Kangaba (Mali) the heartland of the old Mali Empire.
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À travers paroles, musique, agent rythmique, répondeur, geste, profération, et déclamation, cette pièce, de manière vivante, recréee le parcours historique et épique de Soundjata, le Roi Lion, unificateur et fondateur de l'empire du Mali au XIIIe siècle. La stature légendaire de Soundjata, celui qui donna officiellement au griot son titre de maître de la parole et de musicien attitré celui aussi qui, selon la tradition, avec l'aide de la confrérie des maîtres chasseurs, au début de son règne proclama dans la Charte du Mandén que : « L'essence de l'esclavage......» .....etc.