A term that appeared first in the mid-17th century (as guiriot) in French writing about West Africa, and referred to a class of hereditary professional musical and verbal artisans in certain socially differentiated societies in the Senegambia region. Griot is a French rendering of local West African terms: Arabic iggio; Wolof gewel; Fulfulde gawlo; Maninka (Malinke)–Xasonke (Kassonke)–Bamana (Bamara) jeli; Mandinka jali; and Soninke jaare. Griots are found primarily in Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea and Mali and belong to a limited number of lineages with probable roots in ancient Ghana or Mali. They formerly enjoyed extensive royal patronage and still dominate the national ensembles in their countries. Certain instruments are exclusive to griots in accordance with the region and people: ngoni/koni, Kora, Balo, tama and dunun are used by jeli/jali; xalam and tama by gewel; gambare by jaare; hoddu by gawlo; and tidinit and ardin by iggio. Original references were extended by outsiders to refer to any African oral historian, praise-singer or musician, regardless of birthright. Within Africa, the term can have pejorative connotations inherited from European colonial writing.
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E. Charry: Mande Music (Chicago, 2000)
ERIC CHARRY