Throughout Sundiata many relationships are made and destroyed between enemies and friends. Different interactions play a range of roles in helping Sundiata obtain his destiny. From strangers to family members Sundiata is able to gain wisdom and strength no matter how good or bad his relationships may be.
Before Sundiata was born, his father, Maghan Kon Fatta, was greeted by two men who paid their respects for hunting on the king’s land. This first interaction in the story sets the destiny of the king’s son. During the conversation the hunters told the king of their encounters and how the buffalo woman, Sogolon, would bore him a son “more mighty than Alexander,”(3) if he could tame her. Before we are introduced to Sundiata we already know how the epic ends.
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As Sogolon became the center of her husband’s attention, Sassouma became angered;her bitterness led to her constant abuse of Sologon. After the king’s death Sassouma convinced the council to give the throne to her son. In gaining power she outcasted Sogolon and her children, eventually driving them into exile. The relationship between Sundiata’s mother and step-mother was part of his path in obtaining his destiny. Although it caused many hardships, he was able to overcome and plan his return to Mali.
A positive relationship that Sundiata formed was with the princes from other kingdoms, that he met when he began walking. He becomes especially close with Fran Kamara, who becomes king of Tabon, and Kamandjan, who becomes king of Sibi. When Sundiata is exiled and finally decides to return, taking back his throne, he asks Fran Kamara and Kamandjan to form an alliance in order to defeat Soumaoro. Although seven years had past since Sundiata had seen his childhood friends, unexpectedly the bond they made as children was still