Historical Context:
 Within the Nyamakala
(artisan group) of West African Mande (Mandinka) society the term for musicians varies depending on
the context of the language being spoken. Djely and Jeli, are
two common variants, and are used in Gambia, Guinea, Mali, and other west
coast countries.
 To avoid
unnecessary confusion or an unintentional emphasis on musicians within a
specific region, this article will dispense with using these local terms. In
their place will be substituted the term griot, and use it to refer to
Mande musicians
in a non-gender specific sense. Female griots are known as
Griottes and will be addressed as such unless otherwise
indicated. "Griot" is used throughout West Africa by
musicians and non-musicians alike, so its usage in a general
sense is certainly not without precedent. However, the
precise etymology of the term is obscure. The term Guiriot
being used in his late 17th century travel notes, while
other research indicates that it may have an African root,
being a variant of the Fulani term Gawlo. Its etymology
aside, it is widely held to be a French term, though it also
has widespread usage in the Anglophone nations of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Ghana.
The
origin of the griots' caste, is less precise, and stories which relate
to it have evolved over time as a result of new cultural influences on
West African societies. Accordingly, there are many tales which
explain the origin of the griots. Islam spread throughout the region
from the 8th century CE onwards, and it is common to hear stories
which relate directly the derivation of the profession with the arrival of Islam.
Certainly the griots’ craft is ancient, with some authors positing a pre-Islamic era. Bird, in "Heroic songs of the
Mande Hunters", suggests that the caste of the griot evolved from the
"priest-bards" of the hunters’ societies and that the griot epics
evolved from the heroic songs of the hunters (1973). A widely accepted
tale in West Africa indicates the origin of the griots in the time of the prophet
 Mohammed, a narrative which is known as Sourahata.
The main thread of the narrative concerns a slave, Sourahata, who
refuses to convert to Islam. He attempts to kill the prophet Mohammed,
but succeeds only in wounding him. Mohammed condemns Sourakata and the
children of his first wife to wander for eternity. The children of Sourahata's, second wife converted to Islam and were spared, becoming
the caste of griots.
Griots divide their narrations into four distinct categories:
a) the history of the first word (which is devoted to the
epic of
Soundiata);
b) the history of
the ageing word;
c) the history of the ancient word;
d)
narratives which are concerned with modern history
The majority of these narratives are performed to musical
accompaniment, and they describe important leaders and events in Mande
history. Many of the narratives are concerned with the exploits of
Mande heroes and warriors.
Some recount battles against fought against European armies, others detail
inter-ethnic conflicts. Some griot epics describe the slave trade.
Each narrative contains an impressive amount of detail about its
subject matter and the lives of those who were involved. The published versions of the
epic of
Soundiata, for example, include one recitation that is over
5,500 lines in length. It took several weeks to be completed, though
performances are usually fairly brief, taking less than two hours to
be concluded. Epics are either recited in a spoken voice, sung, or
may be delivered in a performance which incorporates both methods.
Many epic narratives are linked with the
epic of Soundiata’s life. They
describe, variously, his brother, leading generals in his armies, or
are in praise of the bravery of his warriors. During a recital, the
griot will name the central character's ancestors and relatives, and will also add
sayings and proverbs which imply their
position in Mande history. By doing this, the griot is emotionally bringing
historic
heroes back to life. This is indicated by the saying "M B’a Wullindila"
which a griot may include in their narration. The phrase translates as
"I am waking him up", and it signifies to the
audience that the narrative embodies the hero and is a testament to
the hero’s past achievements.
 In addition there are other narratives whose
theme concerns such matters as moral issues, religious duties romance
and theological observance. Though the epics encompass a broad spectrum
of topics, the basic story and outline of each narrative maintains its
integrity. A griot adds their own comments and insights to the basic
scheme, and it is this which creates suspense and interest for the
listening audience.
Along with other elements, such as the griot’s vocal quality and
their level of musicianship, their ability to recount historical
details and weave into them their own inflections is a measure of a
griot's skill. Those griots who specialise in epic narrative
recitation are highly esteemed and their reputations are known
throughout the region. No two performances of an epic narrative will
be exactly the same, for the flexibility within the framework permits
musicians the freedom to explore and improvise upon the themes.
Contemporary Society:
However, not all of the griot’s repertoire
is aimed at heroes
and people of the past. Griots possess specialized local knowledge of
important events and families, and a large part of a musician’s
repertoire is directed towards the performance of praise songs to horon families, who constitute the bulk of a griot’s patrons. As
praise singers a griot will compliment their patron or host who, in
return, rewards the griot with a gift of some sort. This form of
exchange should not be viewed simply as a payment for their services
but as "the fulfilment of an obligation or the
cementing of an ancient historical interdependence".
 Griots legitimize the horon’s authority, which they are able to do
through their knowledge of genealogies and history. Accordingly, when
performing for a patron, a griot may include in the recitation events
relating to the noble’s forebears. They may tell of the ancestor’s
bravery in an ancient battle, or how their wise counsel was sought
concerning a complicated matter. The host will reward the griot who fulfils this
role, and the griot will entertain his patron and guests by recounting
stories which detail the lives of their ascendants.
The griot may also sing praises directly to the host,
commenting, for example, on their honesty and generosity,
and how their ancestors would be proud of their
achievements today. Through this process the host’s social
status is enhanced, and the griot is rewarded accordingly.
A griot will maintain close relations with a patron,
visiting them regularly and being present at important
events such as marriages,
naming ceremonies
and circumcision events.
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