The Creation of the Niger River (Mande)
Long ago, the Niger River flowed only underground. A heroic hunter named Fara Makan tracked a wounded antelope for seven days without water. When he was dying of thirst, he shot an arrow into the ground, and water burst forth, creating the Niger River. The river then wound its way across the Sahel, bringing life to the lands of Mali, Niger, and Nigeria. The Djoliba (the Mande name for the Niger) became the lifeblood of the Mali Empire, enabling agriculture, trade, and transport. Sundiata Keita's empire was built along this great river, and the river's annual flood is still celebrated as a gift