The Functions Of Griots - Sundiata

Djeli Mamoudo Kouyate is a griot in the country of Guinea, West Africa; he lives in the village of Djeliba Koro, on the Niger River, and is the main source of information for the book Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali. The book focuses on the trials and tribulations of Sundiata, a legendary warrior, king, and founder of the Mali Empire; and the functions of griots in serving their king. Sundiata is born to Sogolon, and is supposed to become the king of Mali, but Sundiata cannot walk until he turns 11 years old, and his half brother, Dankaran Touman, becomes the king. Dankaran exiles Sundiata and his family, and Balla Fasseke, Sundiata's griot, prepares the family for exile. During exile, Sundiata gathered a very strong army, with dreams of taking his rightful place as king of Mali.

Griots have many functions and to attribute a griot with a main purpose would be to under-estimate their importance to their culture. Of all their duties, a few are more important than others. Of these, the most important jobs include keeping Mandinka tradition through word of mouth, the use of song, and being the right-hand man and best friend of their king.

First of all, griots are very important to African culture; they are the keepers of tradition and are responsible for making sure things are done according to the customs of their ancestors. This is a very painstaking task because these customs are not written down; they are passed down by word of mouth. Their father teaches each griot, the knowledge griots possess is remembered through song and story, and is passed on with amazing accuracy. This system would not work well if it were not for the griots being extremely honest and proud, the stories are not touched in any way in the transition from generation to generation, something I find to be unbelievable. The griot Mamadou Kouyate explains it well when he says, "Ð'...royal griots do not know what lying is."(1) This is a simple statement but is the essence of a griot; it is the principle by which griots lived. The honesty makes it possible for griots to be perfect in counseling kings and educating them on the history of kings before them. The history of kings is also important information for the griots to have so they can tell kings of their ancestors battles, to make sure the king knows what he is capable of and to give him inspiration for the battle ahead.

Second, griots have a passion for music, and this is also one of their most important contributions to their king and culture. The griot uses song for many purposes, and is very skilled at creating emotion with their songs. A song can be to praise, to celebrate, to raise spirits of warriors, or to control. When Sogolon, Sundiata's mother, first came to the town of Nianiba, the griots in the crowd sang songs of praise (10). An excellent example of the griots using a song to celebrate is on p.21, when Sundiata first stood up and bent a metal bar into a bow, Balla Fasseke, Sundiata's griot, sang "Hymn to the Bow", a song created to celebrate and inform the townspeople of the young mans power. Page 54 contains a song by the griots with the specific purpose of inspiring Sundiata's warriors to victory. They had won their battle earlier that day, but Sundiata's army was fearful for the future. This song helped ensure victory for Sundiata, another essential attribute of griots. Griots have found yet another use for song, to control or persuade. This is best seen when Balla Fasseke is playing king Soumaoro's balafon (40). King Soumaoro is a rival king to Sundiata, and this is a sacred balafon that had never been played by another person except Soumaoro, when the king catches him he is definitely in trouble. However, Balla Fasseke uses his sharp intellect and awesome musical power to get