Djeli Mamadou Kouyaté
The griot who tells the story of Sundiata.
Sundiata
The hero of the epic and founder of the Mali Empire. Also known as Maghan Sundiata and Mari Djata and Naré Maghan Djata and Sogolon Djata.
Sogolon Kedjou
Mother of Sundiata, and a great sorcerer.
Soumaoro Kanté
A great sorcerer king, and Sundiata's primary antagonist. Sundiata creates the Mali Empire by defeating him.
Sosso Balla
Soumaoro's son and one of his chief generals.
Dankaran Touman
Son of Sassouma Bérété, half-brother to Sundiata, and king of Mali in his stead before Sundiata's exile.
Balla Fasséké
Sundiata's griot, gifted to him by his father. The son of Maghan's griot Gnankouman Doua.
Maghan Kon Fatta
Sundiata's father, also called Naré Maghan. King of Niani.
Sassouma Bérété
Maghan Kon Fatta's first wife, the "queen mother" who forces Sundiata's exile.
Manding Bory
Son of Namandjé, half-brother to Sundiata and his best friend. An ally in the war with Soumaoro.
Gnankouman Doua
The griot of Sundiata's father, Maghan Kon Fatta.
Namandjé
Third wife of Maghan Kon Fatta and mother to Manding Bory.
Nana Triban
Daughter of Sassouma Bérété, half-sister to Sundiata and later his ally in the war against Soumaoro.
Fakoli Koroma
Nephew of Soumaoro. He rebels against his uncle when Soumaoro steals his wife.
Fran Kamara
A childhood friend of Sundiata's. Later the king of Tabon and ally to Sundiata. Named Tabon Wana after he becomes king.
Kamandjan
A childhood friend of Sundiata's. Later the king of Sibi and ally to Sundiata.
Soumosso Konkomba
Leader of the nine great witches of Mali.
Mansa Konkon
The king of Djedeba and a great sorcerer. He grants Sundiata and his family asylum in their exile but later reneges on the protection.
Moussa Tounkara
The king of Mema. He grants asylum to Sundiata and his family for many years. Sundiata becomes his viceroy and he learns much from the king.
Noumounkeba
A tribal chief who defends Sosso after Soumaoro's defeat.
Bilali
An ancestor of Sundiata's. The conquerer of Mali.
Farakourou
Head of the Mali ironsmiths (meaning a soothsayer). He gives Sundiata the iron rod that helps him stand.
Nounfairi
Father of Farakourou, a smith of Niani. He makes the iron rod that helps Sundiata stand.
Lahibatoul Kalabi
An ancestor of Sundiata's. He brought grace on Mali through his pilgrimage to Mecca.
Kolonkan
Daughter of Sogolon, Sundiata's older sister.
Oulamba and Oulani
The two hunters who win Sogolon and grant her as wife to Maghan Kon Fatta.
Djamarou
Daughter of Sogolon, Sundiata's youngest sister.
Mandjan Bérété
Sassouma's brother. He finds Sundiata in Ghana after Mali is occupied by Soumaoro Kanté.
Soumaba Cissé
King of Wagadou. He gives half of his men to Sundiata to fight Soumaoro Kanté.
Singbin Mara Cissé
A divine of the court who tells tales of Alexander the Great to Sundiata as they travel from Ghana to defeat Soumaoro Kanté.
Keleya
Magician wife of Fakoli Koroma who is stolen by Soumaoro Kanté.
Kita Mansa
The king of Kita, protected by the jinn of a great mountain. He refuses to offer submission to Sundiata, who defeats him and drinks of Kita's magic pool of water.
