What is a griot person?
A griot is a West African storyteller, singer, musician, and oral historian. They train to excel as orators, lyricists and musicians. Master of the oral traditions, the griot plays a key role in west African society. Griots originated in the 13th century in the Mande empire of Mali.
Is the griot usually a man or a woman?
Most griots were men, but women can also be griots. Women griots usually specialized in singing. Another name for griot is “jeli.” Although griots were well-respected (and sometimes feared for their magical powers), they were considered a low-ranking caste in the hierarchy of African social life.
What is a modern day griot?
Since the 13th century, when Griots originated from the West African Mande empire of Mali, they remain today as storytellers, musicians, praise singers and oral historians of their communities. Theirs is a service based on preserving the genealogies, historical narratives, and oral traditions of their people.
What is an American griot?
American Griot is an original play exploring the often overlooked history of early African Muslims forced into American slavery and the influence they had on what would become the American music genre known as the blues.
How do you become a griot?
Traditionally, in order to become a griot, you had to be born into a griot family. It was an art form passed from father to son, almost like an apprenticeship.
What countries have griots?
Griots today live in many parts of West Africa and are present among the Mande peoples (Mandinka or Malinké, Bambara, etc.), Fulɓe (Fula), Hausa, Songhai, Tukulóor, Wolof, Serer, Mossi, Dagomba, Mauritanian Arabs, and many other smaller groups.
What is griot music?
The griots’ role has traditionally been to preserve the genealogies, historical narratives, and oral traditions of their people; praise songs are also part of the griot’s repertoire. Many griots play the kora, a long-necked harp lute with 21 strings.
What are griots quizlet?
Griots. Griots are historians who are trained to remember all the important facts about their people. They are storytellers, poets and musicians.
Where do griots live?
West Africa
Griots today live in many parts of West Africa and are present among the Mande peoples (Mandinka or Malinké, Bambara, etc.), Fulɓe (Fula), Hausa, Songhai, Tukulóor, Wolof, Serer, Mossi, Dagomba, Mauritanian Arabs, and many other smaller groups.
What is the importance of Timbuktu?
For more than 600 years, Timbuktu was a significant religious, cultural and commercial center whose residents traveled throughout Asia, Africa and Europe. Timbuktu was famous for educating important scholars who were well known throughout the Islamic world.
What is griot AP world history?
Griot. A professional singer or storyteller that transmitted stories, histories, epics, and other accounts.
What is the most famous griot story?
One of the most celebrated epics is about Sunjata, “the lion thief who takes his inheritance,” the founder of the Mali Empire. There is no single version of this story. Some historians believe that if all of the different chapters that people tell were combined into a single tale, it would take several days to recite!
What did the griot often memorize?
Griots were also the historians of Ancient Africa. They would keep track and memorize the history of the village including births, deaths, marriages, droughts, wars , and other important events . The stories and historical events would then be passed down from generation to generation.
What is a modern griot?
Recently the term ‘modern griot’ has appeared to mean any African or African American who is a keeper of oral history, musician, singer, and instrumentalist. In order to be a griot you must have griots in your ancestry. Many griots will perform their lineage before starting a performance.
Where did griots originate?
Since the 13th century, when Griots originated from the West African Mande empire of Mali, they remain today as storytellers, musicians, praise singers and oral historians of their communities. Theirs is a service based on preserving the genealogies, historical narratives, and oral traditions of their people.
What is the plural of griot?
griot (plural griots) A West African storyteller who passes on oral traditions; a wandering musician and poet. (cooking) A Haitian dish of fried pork.