Sunjata Keita - Also known as Simbon, Jata… Son of Sogolon and founder of the Mali Empire. He led the army that defeated Sumaworo and the army of Soso. Essentially, he grows up in exile, serves another king, then begins quarreling with the Soso. THe people plead for Sunjata to go back and take his rightful throne from Sumaworo, who sends Sumanguru to kill Sunjata.

Sumaworo Kante - Son of Bali Kante, ruler of Soso. He is associated with the stringed instruments and the bala, which he acquired from the genies. He is the ruler of the Mande peoples while Sunjata is in exile.

Sogolon - Sunjata's mother, sister to the Buffalo Woman and Do Kamissa.

Two brothers/hunters, Abdu Karimi and Abdu Kassimu, arrive Manden, where Maghan Konfara is the ruler or mansa. The king cannot conceive a son. He tries and tries, but he cannot. When the two brothers arrive, he sends them to kill a white buffalo that is plaguing a neighboring village, promising them their choice of wives if they do.

Along the way the two brothers meet the Buffalo Woman, a shapechanger. She tells them she is fated to die by their hands and has two requests: one is not to let anyone see her body after she dies, and two that they must choose her ugly sister, Sogolon, for their bride-prize.

The brother kill the Buffalo Woman and marry Sogolon, but neither can conceive with her. SO, they give her over to Maghan Konfara. And that is how Sunjata came to be born.

Sogolon is despised by the other brides. Sunjata is born with mobility issues. He tries to walk but cannot until he is seven years old. He is so strong that he bends his fathers iron staff, and later turns it into a bow. Finally, he is able to walk and show up all the haters. '

When he is older some locals try to kill him, but they mistakenly kill a slave boy instead. Sogolon, fearing the other wives, and Sunjata both leave and go into exile. Sogolon bribes a ferryman with a bracelet to get them across the river and away.

Sogolon and Sunjata stop in a place called Soso, where they meet Sumaworo Kante. Sumaworo has received a prophecy that a man will break the taboo of sitting in Sumaworo's hammock.Sure enough, Sunjata sits in the hammock and Sumaworo knows Sunjata will come to lead the Mande people. So, he banishes Sunjata and becomes the main atagonist.

Sumaworo recounts his experience with some genies and his sister, Fakoli, sacrifices herself so that Sumaworo can receive the bala. This is why Sumaworo is associated with string instruments and the bala, a type of xylophone.

Sumaworo, fearing Sunjata has returned, eventually wants Sunjata dead. He sends men out looking for him, lays waste to his own Mande kingdom nine times, kills all the men, but still can't find Sunjata.