Sunjata is an African hero of an African epic of people living in the southern Sahara. Sunjata is based off of a king named Sundiata. Sundiata founded the kingdom of Mali around A.D. 1240. Sunjata had a very interesting childhood. His mother was pregnant with him for eight years. A Jinee told Sunjata 's father that he would be a great leader and a king someday. As a child, Sunjata had very interesting powers that he could do. He earned the nick name Mari Djata which basically means that he could turn himself into a lion. His father noticed his powers were very strong and was very frightened by his abilities. His father disarmed his son from having the ability to shape shift in to animals. After a long time being paralyzed, Sunjata 's