“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