{"id":7024,"date":"2026-06-30T21:02:17","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T21:02:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ultimesgriots.com\/qu-est-ce-qu-un-griot\/"},"modified":"2026-06-30T21:02:17","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T21:02:17","slug":"qu-est-ce-qu-un-griot","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ultimesgriots.com\/en_US\/qu-est-ce-qu-un-griot\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a griot?"},"content":{"rendered":"

In many West African societies, the griot<\/strong> is the keeper of memory: storyteller, historian, genealogist, poet and musician, he passes on the history, values and wisdom of his community from generation to generation. But what exactly is a griot? Where does this figure come from, and what is his role today? An overview of these masters of the spoken word.<\/p>\n

Definition: what is a griot?<\/h2>\n

A griot is a custodian of African oral tradition. The word \u201cgriot\u201d is the most widespread French term, but each language has its own: jeli<\/em> (or djeli<\/em>) among the Manding peoples, gewel<\/em> among the Wolof, for example. The griot is not merely a storyteller: he is at once living memory, spokesperson, mediator and artist. His word commits, connects and transmits.<\/p>\n

Origins: a centuries-old tradition<\/h2>\n

The griot tradition is deeply rooted in the history of West Africa, particularly in the Manding cultural area. It is often associated with the Mali Empire, founded in the 13th century. The famous Epic of Sundiata<\/em> \u2014 the account of the empire\u2019s founding by Sundiata Keita \u2014 was passed down from griot to griot for centuries before being written down. This shows how much these keepers of the word have shaped the collective memory of the continent.<\/p>\n

The griot\u2019s role in society<\/h2>\n

The griot holds an essential social function. Depending on the era and the region, he may be:<\/p>\n