who showed leadership qualities. Also, they thought he was a little better than them because he knew French. Ihamim Bakayoko, like Sundiata, ruled in consultation. For example, when there were problems concerning the strike that needed to be resolved, the people in the union would assemble and discuss it among themselves. Another example is when Bakayoko went to talk with the railway management. Before the meeting Bakayoko discussed with the union how he felt about the situation and then asked if everyone agreed with what he had said. Towards the end of the book, the women were even consulting Bakayoko. This could be seen in the From Thies to Dakar chapter where the women were taking an active role in the strike.The next topic covered by the two books was the role of emotional self-control in African leadership. Traditionally leaders were to show very little if any emotion. That is how Sundiata mainly appears throughout the book. For instance, when he went into battle, he showed no emotion, i.e. whether he was afraid or not. However, he did display some emotion when it was necessary. This was evident in the beginning of the book when Sundiata’s mother was being ridiculed because her son was not able to walk. Hearing this made Sundiata angry. However, instead of flying off the handle, he focused his anger inward and used it successfully to raise himself to his feet and eventually to walk. Sundiata’s anger also shows when the queen mother takes his griot away from him. This time his mother calms him some but not before he has a few words with King Touman. Sundiata also showed his sensitive side when his sister, Nana Triban and his griot escaped from Soumaoro. When his sister told him of Niani’s destruction and the captivity of its people, Sundiata was very sympathetic to the situation reinforcing his desire to recapture the land that was rightfully his.Ihamim Bakayoko had good emotional self-control too...
