Griots
description
Transcript of Griots
“One of the most important roles of the griot … is their ability to use historical knowledge to unify people and bring them
together. This is now fundamentally important as most of the tensions and wars across the entire African continent come out of the fact that most African countries are populated by many distinctly different peoples within the single sovereign
state.”
(soundjunction.org)
(Pronounced Gree-o)A cultural figure responsible for maintaining
and sharing the collective memory of a people.
tutored princes and gave council to kings. used their detailed knowledge of history to
shed light on present-day dilemmas.would memorize significant events, like
births, death, marriages, hunts, seasons and wars, ensuring that the collective heritage, culture and lineage of the clan continued.
HistorianGenealogistOrator, artist, musicianCounsellorSpiritual Leader
Their roles are hereditary and their surnames identify them as Griots.
Training begins within the family. Boys and girls learn parents, and then a formal griot school, finally they must complete an apprenticeship with a master griot.
Both boys and girls can train to be griots, although griottes, or female griots, may have less freedom to travel and train because of family obligations.
Wali Cham talks about what it means to be a djele, another word for griot.
http://www.soundjunction.org/whatdoesitmeantobeagriottoday.aspa?NodeID=121
Listen to a griot:
http://www.soundjunction.org/whatisagriot.aspa?NodeID=121http://www.soundjunction.org/whatisagriot.aspa?NodeID=121
Lott, J. (2002) Keepers of History. Research Penn State 23(2). Retrieved from
http://www.rps.psu.edu/0205/keepers.html
Mullally R. (January 2005). Griots. In aagriots.org. Retrieved February 8, 2010, from
http://aagriots.org/mississippi/griots.htm
The Griot’s Role in Uniting People. In soundjunction.org. Retrieved February 7, 2010, from
http://www.soundjunction.org/thegriot’sroleinunitingpeople.aspa?NodeID=121
What Does it Mean to Be a Griot Today. In soundjunction.org. Retrieved February 7, 2010,
from http://www.soundjunction.org/whatdoesitmeantobeagriottoday.aspa?NodeID=121
What is a Griot. In soundjunction.org. Retrieved February 7, 2010 from
http://www.soundjunction.org/whatisagriot.aspa?NodeID=121
What is a Griot? (pronounced GREE-oh). In web.cocc.edu. Retrieved February 7,
2010, from
http://web.cocc.edu/cagatucci/classes/hum211/CoursePack/coursepackpast/maligriot.htm