The following description of Sundiata's famous 1235 defeat of Sumanguru illustrates how legends of warfare created larger-than-life heroes:

As Sundiata advanced with-his army to meet Sumanguru, he learned that Sumanguru was coming against him with an army prepared for battle. They met in a place called Kirina. When Sundiata turned his eyes on the army of Sumanguru he asked, "What is this cloud on the eastern side?" They told him it was Sumanguru's army.

As for Sumanguru, when he looked in Sundiata's direction he exclaimed,-"What is that mountain of stone?" And they told him "It is the army of Sundiata, which lies to the west of us."

Then the two columns came together and fought a murderous battle.-In the thick of the fight, Sundiata uttered a great shout in the face of the warriors of Sumanguru. At...