griot
A West African hereditary musician, storyteller, and oral historian who preserves cultural knowledge through song.
In Depth
Griots (also called jelis) are born into the profession; the role passes from parent to child across generations. They serve as living repositories of genealogy, history, and cultural values, encoding this knowledge in songs and stories. Griots perform at ceremonies, mediate disputes, and advise leaders. Their instruments include the kora, balafon, and ngoni. The griot tradition predates written history in West Africa and remains vital to cultural identity.
When a griot dies, the Mandinka say it is as if a library has burned down, because the historical knowledge stored in their memory is irreplaceable.