Great Sogolon’s House

David Conrad received his Ph.D. in African History from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London in 1981. He is Emeritus Professor of History, State University of New York at Oswego, and was President of the Mande Studies Association 1986-2008. His research is on oral tradition, indigenous religion and early kingdoms of the Western Sudan. Among his books are A State of Intrigue: The Epic of Bamana Segu According to Tayiru Banbera (British Academy, 1990), Epic Ancestors of the Sunjata Era: Oral Tradition from the Maninka of Guinea (University of Wisconsin, 1999), Somono Bala of the Upper Niger: River People, Charismatic Bards, and Mischievous Music in a West African Culture (Brill, 2002), Sunjata: A West African Epic of the Mande Peoples (Hackett Publishing, 2004), and the prize-winning Empires of Medieval West Africa (Chelsea House Publishers, 2010).

• List of Figures Notes on Nomenclature and Translation Major Characters of the Sunjata Epic according to Djanka Tassey Condé Glossary AcknowledgementsIntroductionGreat Sogolon’s House - Contents by line numbers - TextAppendices - Transcript of a performance by Mori Sanda Condé of Fadama from the market cassette “Union Mandeng” - Last interview with Tassey Condé at Fadama - Visit to Fadama for condolences on the death of Djanka Tassey Condé, interview with jelikuntigi Mandjan Condé - Note from Babou Condé II - Fadama Condé descent from Adam - Notice of the death of Babou Condé II by Djibril Tamsir Niane - The Condé explanation of how they became jeliw - Evidence of a possible bɛlɛntigi succession dispute among the Condé bards of FadamaWorks Consulted Index