The griots’ role has traditionally been to preserve the genealogies, historical narratives, and oral traditions of their people ; praise songs are also part of the griot’s repertoire.
What is the most important skill for a griot to have?
Griots were an important part of the culture and social life of the village. The main job of the griot was to entertain the villagers with stories . They would tell mythical stories of the gods and spirits of the region.
What was the purpose of griots quizlet?
Griots are historians who are trained to remember all the important facts about their people .
What is a griot and what was their role?
A griot is a West African storyteller, singer, musician, and oral historian . They train to excel as orators, lyricists and musicians. The griot keeps records of all the births, deaths, marriages through the generations of the village or family.
What are griots Why were they important in West African culture quizlet?
West Africans passed on their history and culture through stories and oral history. ... professional storytellers and oral historians were called “griots.” They worked for kings and nobles. They memorized and recited stories of famous people and events .
What is the key role of the kinship system in African society?
Kinship is the web of relationships woven by family and marriage. Traditional relations of kinship have affected the lives of African people and ethnic groups by determining what land they could farm, whom they could marry, and their status in their communities .
What became the main language of government trade and Islamic scholarship in West Africa?
What became the main language of government, trade, and Islamic scholarship in West Africa? Arabic became the main language. ... He made such great impression on people that Mali became famous throughout Africa, Asia and Europe.
What is the importance of oral tradition?
However, oral tradition and history have long been a valuable tool for preserving cultural and historical memory . They preserve the history of the past, the events, and contribute to answering the how and why of human actions in the form of stories, legends, songs, speeches (McDonnell, 2003:99, ...show more content...
What are the advantages of oral tradition?
Oral tradition helps the historian to determine historical trends and events . Through the comparison of several oral traditions, the historian can eliminate biases, inconsistencies or inaccuracies in the written records they are using, to come out with an accurate historical account of the past.
How are griots chosen?
Traditionally, griots were of a social caste, the art and important position of storytelling passed down from generations of griot families and as such, not just anyone could become a griot. ... After this final test, the young griot is then given his/her own instrument .
What were three traditional instruments that griots used?
Musical instruments used by griots
In addition to being singers and social commentators, griots are often skilled instrumentalists. Their instruments include the kora, the khalam (or xalam), the goje (or n’ko in the Mandinka language), the balafon, the junjung, and the ngoni .
What were three important functions griots served to African tribes?
Griots were also the historians of Ancient Africa. They would keep track and memorize the history of the village including births, deaths, marriages, droughts, wars , and other important events. The stories and historical events would then be passed down from generation to generation.
What is another word for Griot?
| storyteller narrator | biographer fabler | minstrel poet | relater relator | teller tale teller |
|---|
Why were storytellers important in African society?
They help people make sense of the world and are used to teach children and adults about important aspects of their culture. There is a rich tradition throughout Africa of oral storytelling. ... Storytelling provides entertainment, develops the imagination, and teaches important lessons about every- day life.
What role does oral tradition play in African culture?
It reflects social values in a culture that motivate people in their pursuit of a meaningful life . The oral tradition of storytelling makes it possible for a culture to pass knowledge, history, and experiences from one generation to the next. Many cultures in Africa have rituals of oral storytelling.
Why was music and storytelling important in African societies quizlet?
Music played a part in almost all aspects of African life . People expressed their religious feelings or to get threw an everyday task. In many African song a singer calls out a line then other singers repeat it back. Africans also kept alive their storytelling tradition.
