griot

noun

gri·​ot ˈgrē-ˌō 

: any of a class of musician-entertainers of western Africa whose performances include tribal histories and genealogies

broadly : storyteller

Did you know?

An African tribal storyteller and musician is called a griot. The griot’s role was to preserve the genealogies and oral traditions of the tribe. They were usually among the oldest men in a tribe. In places where written language is the privilege of the few, the place of the griot as cultural guardian is still maintained. In Senegal, for example, the griot—without resorting to fantasy—recites poems or tells stories of warriors, drawing on his own sources of inspiration.

Examples of griot in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Awesome Tapes From Africa at Showtime Since 2006, Awesome Tapes From Africa has been a rewarding way to discover and immerse yourself in sounds from across the African continent, whether griots from Mali, rap from Niger or traditional songs from Sudan. —Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024

The eldest of five siblings, Ms. Nakamura, who is a single mother of two children, was born into a family of griots, or traditional West African musicians and storytellers. —Aurelien Breeden, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2024

There’s also curry oxtail, griot and whole or half jerk chicken. —Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 9 Feb. 2024

This cook and noted griot was determined to use food as a source of pride and validation for African Americans. —Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 14 Dec. 2023

In this innovative participatory experience, Being, an artificial intelligence digital griot, asks the audience to engage in unifying and challenging discussions. —Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Dec. 2023

Rapping itself originated hundreds of years ago with the West African tradition of the griot, the oral historians who wrote and performed songs to document in music the past and present of their people. —George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Aug. 2023

The album’s concept revolves around a Batiste alter-ego, the cosmic DJ/griot Billy Bob Bo Bob, broadcasting a variety of this world’s music into the universe. —Bill Beuttler, BostonGlobe.com, 14 July 2023

In its five decades, Kronos has recorded 43 studio albums and a handful of major film soundtracks on top of that, and their discography includes everything from modernist string quartets to tango (with Astor Piazzolla), West African griot music (with Trio Da Kali), and Bollywood (with Asha Bhosle). —Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 20 July 2023

Word History

Etymology

French

First Known Use

1820, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

griot

noun

gri·​ot ˈgrē-ˌō 

: any of a class of musician-entertainers of western Africa whose performances include tribal histories and genealogies