griot

«griot» in Mova's school dictionary: In West Africa, a traditional storyteller, singer, poet… — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples.

part of speech

noun (a griot, griots)

meaning for a pupil

In West Africa, a traditional storyteller, singer, poet and historian who keeps the history of families and peoples alive by telling it aloud, often with music. tree →

sense in the lessons

In history, music and culture lessons about West Africa (Mali, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea), griots show how history was passed down by memory and speech, not only in books. They often play the kora, a harp-like instrument, and tell the story of Sundiata Keita, founder of the Mali Empire. Phrases: a griot's song, the griot tradition.

examples

• The griot told the story of Sundiata Keita. tree →
• Griots remember the history of whole families. tree →
• The griot played the kora while he sang. tree →
• In Mali, griots are still honoured today. tree →
• Our class learned how griots keep history alive by speaking it. tree →
• The book was written by a griot's grandson. tree →

note

Plural: griots. Pronounced GREE-oh (the t is silent, from French) or GREE-ot. Other local names include jali or jeli. It is a respected role, often passed from parent to child.

Trees and pragmatics

Every meaning and example of «griot» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.