Djibril Tamsir Niane Collected editions

Djibril Tamsir Niane (1932 – 2021) was a Guinean historian and author whose retelling of Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali brought one of West Africa’s greatest oral epics to a global audience. The story recounts the life of Sundiata Keita, founder of the Mali Empire, blending history, myth, and moral teaching.

Drawing on the accounts of griots — traditional oral historians — Niane preserved a cornerstone of African heritage, ensuring the epic’s survival in written form without losing its lyrical spirit.

Through Sundiata, Djibril Tamsir Niane honored the voice of Africa’s storytellers and the legacy of a legendary hero.