a type of Soudanic bard; part musician, part storyteller.
In the Bambara and Malinke languages "djeli" means "griot" and also "blood". In their inherited duty and vocation, the djeli are the life-blood of Malian society. As oral historians, storytellers, singers and musicians, they keep the past in living contact with the present by acting as ajudicators, arbitrators, even match-makers. Both men and women practice this vocation. In this way they bind the relations between people and families and in a wider circle the whole of society, and allegorically, into the fabric of the whole human family.
Generic term for a West African oral historian-cum-minstrel; a storyteller.
a storyteller in West Africa; perpetuates the oral traditions of a family or village
a learned storyteller, entertainer, and historian
an African poet/musician who relays history via oral tradition and over drums or sparse instrumentation
a revered storyteller in many parts of the African Diaspora
a West African performer who perpetuates the oral traditions of a family
oral historian, story teller, chief signifier; keepers of tradition and history; artists of orality; specialists of the spoken/sung word and the power—called nyama— i.e. it releases. They may belong to special castes ( nyamakalaw - or handlers of nyama) or inherit their calling through generations of the same family, for example, in Mande West African cultures. Mali, Pan African
(GREE oh) the name for a western African singer/storyteller who recites oral history; also called a bard or jeli
African wandering poet and musician, guardian of oral tradition.
'This page is about the West African poets. For the rapper, see Griot (rapper).
Griot aka Brewz Bana is a rapper from Basel, Switzerland. Formerly known as (Sau-)Mory, he released several records and wix-tapes, until he was finally signed by Universal Records Switzerland, aside with Stars as Baschi, Salome, Kliby & Caroline and Peach Weber. He alleges to be the first hardcore rapper from Switzerland.