African tribal storyteller. The griot's role was to preserve the genealogies and oral traditions of the tribe. Griots were usually among the oldest men. In places where written language is the prerogative of the few, the place of the griot as cultural guardian is still maintained. In Senegal, for example, the griot — without resorting to fantasy — recites poems or tells stories of warriors, drawing on his own sources of inspiration.
Griot: n.
A storyteller in western Africa who perpetuates the oral tradition and history of a village or family.
[French, alteration of guiriot, perhaps ultimately from Portuguese criado, domestic servant, from Latin creātus, one brought up or trained, from past participle of creāre, to produce, bring up.
A storyteller in western Africa who perpetuates the oral tradition and history of a village or family.
[French, alteration of guiriot, perhaps ultimately from Portuguese criado, domestic servant, from Latin creātus, one brought up or trained, from past participle of creāre, to produce, bring up.
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