Griot

A griot (pronounced "gree-oh") is a West African poet, praise singer, and wandering musician, considered a repository of oral tradition. Griots today live in many parts of West Africa, including Mali, Gambia, Guinea, and Senegal, and are present among the Mande peoples, Fulbe, Tukulóor, Wolof, Serer, and Mauritanian Arabs. The word may derive from the French transliteration "guiriot" of the Portuguese word "criado," which in turn means "servant." In African languages, griots are referred to by a number of names: jeli in northern Mande areas, jali in southern Mande areas, géwal in Wolof, gawlo in Pulaar (Fula), and igiiw in Hassaniyya Arabic. Griots form an endogamous caste, meaning that most of them only marry other griots and that those who are not griots do not normally perform the same functions that they perform.

Related Topics:
West Africa - Poet - Musician - Oral tradition - Mali - Gambia - Guinea - Senegal - Mande - Fulbe - Tukulóor - Wolof - Serer - Mauritania - French - Portuguese - Hassaniyya - Arabic - Endogamous - Caste

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