griot

Examples

• All

• Every family in the region has a griot who recounts their ancestry and significant events during gatherings.

• Griots have been an important part of West African society since ancient times.

  Academic text (2010)

• And in West Africa... they're called griots.

  Sinners (2025)

• Just like the African Griot, who would hold these records in his head, the old souls in each family could recollect all the births, deaths, marriage, and sale.

  Daughters of the Dust (1991)

• Like village griots, singers glorify powerful men, influential women, and the business leaders who remunerate them.

  Academic text (1995)

• Once again, Ousmane Sow has shown himself to be a modern griot whose works speak volumes, and whose stories are structured as three-dimensional tales.

  Academic text (1999)

• Senghor frequently likened Senegalese modern artists and others to griots, the caste of oral historians and praise singers active in many parts of West Africa.

  Academic text (2002)

• In many West African communities, a griot serves as a vital keeper of oral traditions and family histories.

• The village's griot entertained us with stories passed down through generations, captivating everyone with his tales.

Synonyms

S

storyteller

vsgriot

62 2.3

A person who tells stories aloud to entertain people

focuses on preserving community history and genealogy in a cultural role

Surface Forms

Etymology