Discuss the role of women in Sundiata. Compare and contrast its treatment of women with the depiction of women in Popul Vuh, Paradise Lost, and/or any of the previous epics that we have studied. Is woman mainly subordinated to her male counterparts or does she exert some degree of power or agency?
Generally, most African societies; Old Mali in particular, as clearly illustrated in the “Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali”as translated by Niane, is one type in which most African women are viewed as less powerful beings and unequal to men, who are actually holding very powerful positions and authority in the society(Mbele, pp. 62). Similarly, women are required to be control by their male counterparts in the society. Consequently, this makes women with no choice but to depend on men in order to achieve their desires in the society. They are left with no conventional roles apart from the domestic chores as is discussed hereby.