The words of the griot Mamadou Kouyate -- The first kings of Mali -- The buffalo woman -- The lion child -- Childhood -- The lion's awakening -- Exile -- Soumaoro Kante : the sorcerer king -- History -- The baobab leaves -- The return -- The names of the heroes -- Nana Triban and Balla Fasseke -- Krina -- The empire -- Kouroukan Fougan or the division of the world -- Niani -- Eternal Mali.