Keita, History,

and Culture
Jason Ryoo
Epics in Europe and Africa

• In Europe, epic is a poem that shows us the past

• “an absolute epic distance separates the epic
world from contemporary reality” – Russian
critic M. M. Bakhtin
• As many European epics are in written poem, it
cannot be changed or modified
• African epics are different – as many epics are
passed from generation to generation by
griots(storytellers), it can be modified to
represent the living culture
01 02 03
Like many other Dani Kouyate, It has several
African epics, story director of “Keita”, messages from
about Sundiata has tried to adapt West director that
many versions African history for represents modern
the modern world African society

Modern translation of African

epics
 • Unlike in the West, commune has been more
important in Africa historically
• Communalism has been important part of African

Communalism society for a long time

• For example, divorce is not an option for woman

in Africa according to the traditional Yoruba culture.

Woman needs to stay married until her death
because it’s her destiny and also for common
interest
Communalism after colonialism

• However, communalism became less important in modern Africa, especially in

elite class
• In Keita, even though Mabo is bilingual, he does not know what his name means
– family history is less important in modern Africa
• If people around Mabo knew the importance of family history and follower of
communalism, they would not bar griot from telling Mabo Sundiata’s story
Colonialism changed
Africa

• European colonization of Africa not just

oppressed African people physically , but also
mentally
• Europeans considered African culture barbaric
and forced African people to be part of
European culture, including bringing
Christianity and Western education system
• African people had to adapt European language
and culture to be part of upper class, which
can be the reason why Mabo did not know
about his family’s history until griot came to
see him
Cultural Imperialism

• Cultural Imperialism is defined as idea that one practice is more

important than other practice
• Even though most African countries gained independence, cultural
imperialism still rules African society
• For example, in “Keita”, history teacher tells students that
America was “discovered” and Africa was not developed before
European discovery of Africa
Cultural Imperialism
https://youtu.be/Yp-nfBKoSkU?t=70
“Post-Colonial Africa”

• Today, many African countries adopted foreign religions like

Christianity and Islam and European languages such as English,
Spanish, Portuguese, and French
• Importance of traditions like ritual performance, magic, divination
and the roles of traditional priests declined
• Now divorce is part of the African society as marrying in a
traditional way is considered “primitive”
Traditional Past vs. Modern Present

European colonialism
greatly changed upper
Difference between
class culture as it
traditional past and
forced African society In Contrast, everything
modern present caused
adopt European about groit represents
a conflict as people
culture. For example, traditional past of
who are used to
in the movie, Mabo’s Africa, including his
European culture
family uses French clothing and food
considered tradition
language, cooks French
ancient
food, and dresses like a
French people.
Why Mabo is important

• Mabo has a role of connecting modern audience to

ancient history’
• Instead of just using Sundiata’s story, director chose
to include Mabo and his story in modern Africa to
give modern African society a message about
impact of European colonialism
Works Cited

• Cooksey, Thomas L. "'The man of the day to follow': Dani Kouyate’s Keita! And the living epic." Literature-Film Quarterly, vol. 37,
no. 4, 2009, p. 262+. Literature Resource Center, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A217787232/LitRC?
u=char69915&sid=LitRC&xid=7afb1d8a. Accessed 23 Oct. 2018.
• “Cultural Imperialism-Episode 4.” YouTube, FBMedia, 9 Aug. 2015, youtu.be/Yp-nfBKoSkU?t=70.
• “Keïta, The Voice of the Griot / Keita, L'Heritage Du Griot.” African Film Festival, Inc., 4 Aug. 2017, www.africanfilmny.org/2012/
keita-the-voice-of-the-griot-keita-l’heritage-dug-riot/.
• “Map 2: Colonial Languages.” Exploring Africa, Michigan State University, exploringafrica.matrix.msu.edu/3061-2/.
• Oyedola, David A., and Olaoluwa A. Oyedola. "The relevance of cultural heritage in remaking a new Africa." Journal of Pan
African Studies, vol. 8, no. 6, 2015, p. 85+. Literature Resource
Center, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A441912024/LitRC? u=char69915&sid=LitRC&xid=ea93d9e9. Accessed 23 Oct. 2018.
• “Rome Reborn: The Vatican Library & Renaissance Culture Humanism.” Humanism - Rome Reborn: The Vatican Library & Renaissance
Culture | Exhibitions - Library of Congress, Library of Congress, 8 Jan. 1993, www.loc.gov/exhibits/vatican/humanism.html.
• “We Are Moving Right along!” AFRICAN COMMUNITY PROJECT, 26 Oct. 2012, www.africancommunityproject.com/page/36/.
• https://youtu.be/Yp-nfBKoSkU?t=70