In ancient West Africa a Mande ethnic group known as the Soninke erected many city-states on the edge of the Sahara Desert which gradually coalesced into the prosperous Ghana (Wagadu to the Soninke) empire. The Ghana empire was the first of the three great Sahelian empires and dominated the Trans-Saharan Trade from around 300 AD to 1076 AD. Like the Manding peoples such as the Bambara and Mandinka, the Soninke were proud warriors who tasked bards called in this case "Gesere" with singing the deeds of their noble patrons.
Across the ages songs relating to Wagadu's individual heroes and legendary personages were woven together into an epic tale known as the Dausi. The Dausi concerns itself with the rise and fall of Wagadu's four great cities owning to the greatness and shortcomings of man. Being orally transmitted meant that the majority of the Dausi is likely lost to history, with only fragments surviving into the modern day. The Soninke being among the earliest converts to Islam in West Africa did not help matters, due to the abhorrence of pagan elements such as magic and reverence for the spirits.
The Dausi can be considered a greater book of heroes while the Pui can be considered a lesser book of heroes due to the former's larger and more prominent scale. The Dausi opens with the legendary origins of the Soninke peoples followed by the legends of Wagadu in four stages of its early history.
- Gassire's Lute, the story of a surly prince who is humbled after his reckless behavior and narrow-sightedness ends in tragedy. Rather than a king's crown, his final legacy is a bard's lute.
- The Rediscovery of Wagadu, follows Lagarre son of king Dinga who tricks his brothers out of their inheritance and sets out on a quest to restore the city of Wagadu after the royal war-drum known as the Tabele is stolen by jinns.
- The Fight with Bida, involves Mamadi the Laconic's efforts to slay the giant python Bida and rescue his lover Sia Jatta Bari from being the monster's Virgin Sacrifice. Things take a turn for the worse when the vanquished Bida curses Wagadu with drought and poverty on his final breath.
- Samba Gana, relates an adventurous prince's efforts to win the affections of Ice Queen Annalja Tu-Bari through multiple conquests culminating in a duel with a great serpent known as Isa Bere.
- The Sword of Dama Ngile takes place during the reign of Sundiata Keita wherein prince Dama Ngile of the Soninke is the one true king of Wagadu, needing only a magic sword with his name inscribed on it to fully legitimize his authority. A chance encounter with a Muslim sage allows Dama Ngile and his family to overtake kingship from the wicked Bemba Niarrate.
- Hatumata Djaora the Clever was a young woman who was given free reign by her father to choose any husband she liked. Preferring wise men over rich men, she would challenge suitors to solve a riddle for her hand in marriage. Eventually a man named Kide Djaora solves the riddle and wins her over. The relationship is short-lived as the jealous suitors murder him in the bush on the way back home to tell his family about the engagement, but not before he leaves a clue about his fate for Hatumata to find.
- The quarrel of Dabora and Sagone covers the conflict between the ugly Bai Tergissi against his handsome rival Sila Mabu over a young woman they both wanted.
