Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali Glossary

Glossary of Terms

An gnewa

"forward"

aubergine

eggplant

balafon

the stringed instrument played by the griots

baobab

a leaf from a particular tree in Mali, used as a condiment

brigand

bandit; highway robber

bulwark

a person, institution or principle that acts as a defense agianst something

calabash

a gourd used for storing liquid or food

chaff

to mock or tease

cleave

split or sever

cowries

shells used as money for the Mandingo people

craven

fainthearted; without courage

credence

credibility

Daffeké

"a fine charger" (powerful steed)

dais

a raised platform

discomfiture

frustration; lack of ease; defeat

distaff

a staff that holds unspun fibers during sewing

effrontery

impudence; nerve

exchequer

a person or department that maintains a government or court's revenue

extoll

praise highly; exalt

fetish

a physical object that contains a magical power

flog

whip

gibe

insult

glade

an open area in a forest

gnougou

a condiment used by the Mandingo, especially common at Niani

granaries

large structures intended for the storage of grain

griot

A singer, storyteller and historian of old Mali. Griots also serve as counselors to kings, advising rulers based on their wisdom and knowledge of history.

hecatomb

sacrifice to the gods consisting of 100 cattle

impetus

moving force; impulse; stimulus

impunity

exemption from punishment

insurgent

a person who revolts against civil authority

jinn

a spirit of nature, common in Mandingo religion

largesse

generosity in bestowing gifts

macabre

having a grim or grisly atmosphere

mattock

a hand tool used for digging or chopping

mithkal

an Arab unit of measurement, used in Mandingo to mean the smallest possible amount of something

morose

gloomy; sullen

mosque

a Muslim place of worship

n'na

the Mandingo word for mother

nafiola

an unknown botanical

nascent

new, just coming into existence

obsequies

funeral rites

opulence

richness; wealth; abundance

pagne

colorful wrapper worn by West African women

plastron

turtle shell

prudence

caution; discretion

rampart

a defensive wall

rancour

malicious resentment; spite

redoubtable

formidable; dreadful

savanna

a grassy plain in tropical or sub-tropical areas, with few trees

scimitar

a sword with a curved blade

Simbon

title meaning "master hunter"

sofas

soldiers in the army of the Mali Empire

soothsayer

one who practices divination (the process of telling the future)

subjugated

subordinate; under control or domination by conquest

tabala

the royal ceremonial drum

taboo

a prohibition enforced by magic; the breaker of a taboo often suffers punishment by a magical force.

taciturn

silent or uncommunicative

Tana

a hereditary taboo

tempest

great storm

trice

a very short period of time; an instant

vainglorious

boastful; prideful; self-important

veneration

respect or awe

viceroy

a figure of authority who serves under a higher sovereign; a second-in-command

wori

a popular game played in Africa involving small stones

wraith

a ghost or spirit that possesses humans