The Buffalo Woman of the Mande (Mande)
In the land of Dô, a buffalo terrorized the countryside, destroying crops and killing hunters. Two brothers, Oulamba and Oulani, discovered that the buffalo was actually a woman named Sogolon who transformed into the beast each night after being cursed by a rival. Following the advice of a wise hunter, one brother married Sogolon in her human form, breaking the curse. Sogolon was already pregnant with a child destined for greatness. This buffalo-woman gave birth to Sundiata Keita, the hero of the Mande people. The story explains Sogolon's mysterious origins, her hunchback appearance, and why S