Griot

Proverbs make the wise wiser. Makes the premitive, knowledgeable, an increases the knowledge of the knowledgeable. Proverbs deepens a persons way of thinking.     GRIOTS cannot lie. Lies deciet and misinformation are enemies of the griots.   griots study proverbs and misapllying proverbs can lead to a griots being harshly punished       a member of a class of traveling poets, musicians, and storytellers who maintain a tradition of oral history in parts of West Africa. A griot, jali, or jeli is a West African historian, storyteller, praise singer, poet, or musician. The griot is a repository of oral tradition and is often seen as a leader due to his or her position as an advisor to royal personages. As a result of the former of these two functions, they are sometimes called a bard. story teller, verse-maker, music composer, oral historian and genealogist, employed by a patron (such as a monarch or noble), to commemorate one or more of the patron's ancestors and to praise the patron's own activities.Originally a specific, lower class of poet, contrasting with the higher rank known as _______. Terms: "griot" and "jali"[edit]   The Manding term jeliya (meaning "musicianhood") sometimes refers to the knowledge of griots, indicating the hereditary nature of the class. Jali comes from the root word jali or djali (blood). This is also the title given to griots in regions within the former Mali Empire. Though the term "griot" is more common in English, some, such as poet Bakari Sumano, prefer the term jeli.   In the Mali Empire The Mali Empire (Malinke Empire), at its height in the middle of the 14th century, extended from central Africa (today's Chad and Niger) to West Africa (today's Mali and Senegal). The empire was founded by Sundiata Keita, whose exploits remain celebrated in Mali today. In the Epic of Sundiata, Naré Maghann Konaté offered his son Sundiata Keita a griot, Balla Fasséké, to advise him in his reign. Balla Fasséké is considered the founder of the Kouyaté line of griots that exists to this day. Each aristocratic family of griots accompanied a higher-ranked family of warrior-kings or emperors, called jatigi. In traditional culture, no griot can be without a jatigi, and no jatigi can be without a griot. However, the jatigi can loan his griot to another jatigi. Most villages also had their own griot, who told tales of births, deaths, marriages, battles, hunts, affairs, and many other things.   In Mande society[edit] In Mande society, the jeli was an historian, advisor, arbitrator, praise singer (patronage), and storyteller. They essentially served as history books, preserving ancient stories and traditions through song. Their tradition was passed down through generations. The name jeli means "blood" in Manika language. They were believed to have deep connections to spiritual, social, or political powers. Speech was believed to have power in its capacity to recreate history and relationships. Despite the authority of griots and the perceived power of their songs, griots are not treated as positively in West Africa as we may imagine. Thomas A. Hale wrote, "Another [reason for ambivalence towards griots] is an ancient tradition that marks them as a separate people categorized all too simplistically as members of a 'caste', a term that has come under increasing attack as a distortion of the social structure in the region. In the worst case, that difference meant burial for griots in trees rather than in the ground in order to avoid polluting the earth (Conrad and Frank 1995:4-7). Although these traditions are changing, griots and people of griot heritage still find it difficult to marry outside of their social group."[2] This discrimination is now deemed illegal.   Musical instruments used by griots[edit] 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, and the ngoni. The kora is a long-necked lute-like instrument with 21 strings. The xalam is a variation of the kora, and usually consists of fewer than five strings. Both have gourd bodies that act as resonator. The ngoni is also similar to these two instruments, with five or six strings. The balafon is a wooden xylophone, while the goje is a stringed instrument played with a bow, much like a fiddle. According to the Encyclopædia Britannica: "West African plucked lutes such as the konting, khalam, and the nkoni (which was noted by Ibn Baṭṭūṭah in 1353) may have originated in ancient Egypt. The khalam is claimed to be the ancestor of the banjo. Another long-necked lute is the ramkie of South Africa."[3] Griots also wrote stories that children enjoyed listening to. These stories were passed down to their children.     Griot- member of a class of traveling intellectuals, poets, musicians, storytellers and scholars who maintain a tradition of oral oral stories, traditions, and history. Griots are highly educated, nomadic group that memorize oral histories and events in Alkebulan. Griots are nomadic so that they may witness history everywhere and exchange knowledge with other Griots. Griots are all too happy to share their knowledge with citizens. They are defensive towards their practice of orally reciting history. They despise the idea of writing history on paper, explained due to believing History is a living thing, paper is dead. Believed the practice was started in west Alkebulan. Service as a Griot is a noble calling, one of vital importance to a prosperous Alkebulan. It is little wonder there are some who refer to the Order as the Knights of History. Griots and are considered servants of Alkebulan and its people. Griots seek to preserve all knowledge. Griots sometimes are used as advisors or teachers to nobels.