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The Oral Traditions of Africa

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The Oral Traditions of Africa Teach Africa TM World Affairs Council of Houston The Oral Traditions of Africa and entertain. Storytelling is an important WHat ARE ORAL shared event with people sitting together, listening and even participating in accounts TRADITIONS? of past deeds, beliefs, taboos, and myths. Oral traditions are messages that are Gifted or well-known storytellers often transmitted orally from one generation to repeat the story with the same words and another. The messages may be passed down same expressions in each performance as through speech or song and may take the they travel. They also add new material to form of folktales and fables, epic histories an old story to make it more interesting or and narrations, proverbs or sayings, and meaningful to different audiences. songs. Oral Traditions make it possible for Oral storytelling emphasizes repetition a society to pass knowledge across genera- of the language and rhythm, which are tions without writing. They help people two of its most important characteristics. make sense of the world and are used to Storytellers often repeat words, phrases, teach children and adults about important refrains, sounds, whole lines and even aspects of their culture. stanzas. The use of repetition helps the audience remember the chorus and allows them to join in with the storyteller. A story- THE ART OF teller pays close attention to the beat and StoRYTELLING how the words sound. Using short phrases makes the stories easier to understand and There is a rich tradition throughout Africa recall from memory. When audiences who of oral storytelling. Although written his- are familiar with the stories actively par- tory existed for centuries in West Af- ticipate in their telling, they feel a sense of rica, most writing was in Arabic, and the belonging to the community. majority of people did not read or write in Arabic. So the transmission of knowledge, The GRIOT (pronounced “gree-OH”) is a history and experience in West Africa was storyteller and oral historian in West Afri- mainly through the oral tradition and per- can culture. He is the social memory of the formance rather than on written texts. Oral community and the holder of the word. The traditions guide social and human morals, Griot is the keeper of facts and important giving people a sense of place and purpose. events of his time. It is his responsibility to There is often a lesson or a value to instill, pass this knowledge on to future genera- and the transmission of wisdom to children tions, as well as that of past times passed is a community responsibility. Parents, down to him by his ancestors. grandparents, and relatives take part in the Originally the Griots were court musicians process of passing down the knowledge of who sang at weddings, naming ceremo- culture and history. Storytelling provides nies, and religious celebrations. They entertainment, develops the imagination, later evolved into advisors to nobility and teaches important lessons about every- and messengers to the community. They day life. sing songs of praise for their leaders and A storyteller’s tools are not just words, but recount the great deeds of ancestors and gestures, singing, facial expressions, body the history of the society. Griots are also movements and acting to make stories advisors, ambassadors, negotiators, media- World Affairs Council of Houston memorable and interesting. Sometimes tors and advocates of the king to his allies PO Box 920905 masks and costumes are used to enhance a and noble families. They are rewarded for Houston, TX 77292-0905 performance. A storyteller performs epics their service to individuals and the com- Voice 713-522-7811 that can be hours or even days long that munity. Their fee varies and ranges from a Fax 713-522-7812 relate history and genealogy, battles and few coins or a blanket to more substantial payments depending on the audience and www.wachouston.org political uprisings of a community. They use riddles, proverbs and myths to educate the skill and popularity of the storyteller. In West Africa, Griots have been practicing their craft for hundreds of years. Griots are described as “the all-seeing, all-knowing eyes THE GRIOT of society.” There is a spiritual and ethical dimension to their Griots are historians, performances and it is believed that special forces are released praise-singers and through the spoken or musical part of their performance. musical entertainers. The GRIOTTE (pronounced “gree-UT”) is a female storyteller. They are the guard- She traditionally sings at ceremonies, celebrations, and special ians of the knowledge occasions. When a woman is married, a Griotte will sing to her of their people’s an- to prepare her for her new life. West African women sing about a cestry and genealogy. women’s role in the society and their relationships with husbands As history may never and in-laws. Griottes also use songs to express their indepen- be written down, the dence and self-reliance or to give comfort, encouragement, and Griot is crucial to empowerment to other women. The SAABI is a long poetic nar- keeping records of rative form sung by West African women to reveal the nature of the past. Griots are relationships between men and women. entrusted with the memorization, recita- ORAL HISTORY is a form of West African oral tradition. It is the tion, and passing on recording, preservation and interpretation of historical informa- of cultural traditions tion, based on the storyteller’s personal experiences and opin- from one genera- ions. It often takes the form of eye-witness account about past tion to the next. The A West African Griot with his Kora events, but can include folklore, myths, songs and stories passed Griot is called upon down over the years by word of mouth. at important events, WEST ARFRICAN FABLES & FOLKTALES are full of wisdom and during which he recounts a family’s genealogy playing his Kora, generally convey a moral or teach a lesson. Often these lessons or other musical instruments, such as the Ballafon. During these are ones of resourcefulness, independence, and illustrate the ceremonies, the youngest Griot acquires new knowledge. rewards of courage. There are different types of folktales, with fables and talking GRIOTS AS TEACHERS beasts’ stories among the most common. African PROVERBS can convey wisdom, truth, a discovery of AND ADVISORS ideas, as well as life lessons. In the time of Emperor Sundiata, Griots tutored princes and gave council to kings. They were educated and wise, and they used EPIC NARRATIONS are the exploits of a hero who really existed their detailed knowledge of history to shed light on present-day and who played a major role in a people’s history. Their adven- dilemmas. Long tures may have been exaggerated to have greater impact. after the fall of the GENEALOGIES are the detailed histories of a dynasty or a people. Malian Empire in Epic stories and genealogies are often sung by Griots with a musi- 1468, a West Afri- cal instrument. They can be very detailed and specific, providing can family of means historians with numbers, dates, and important names. would have their own Griot to advise SONGS occupy an important place in African oral literature. Songs them and help them are present in all moments of life, especially on occasion of ritual negotiate matters ceremonies. with other families. Griots arranged the terms of mar- riages and mediated disputes, always Storytellers always have messages to relying on their un- pass on at the time of celebrations derstanding of each family’s history. GRIOTS AS StoRYTELLERS After a good evening meal, with the moon shining down, the people of a village in ancient Africa might hear the sound of a drum, a rattle, and a voice that shouted, “Come hear, come hear!” These were the sounds of the Griot. When they heard the call, the children knew they were going to hear a wonderful story, with music and dancing and song! Perhaps tonight the story would be about Anansi, the little spider! Every- one loved Anansi. Anansi could weave the most beautiful webs. He was the one who taught the people of Ghana how to weave Under the rule of Sundiata’s grandnephew, Mansa Musa, the beautiful Mud Cloth. Anansi had a good wife, strong sons, and Mali rose to its height. The MALI EMPIRE comprised most many friends. He got into many a mess, and used his wits and the of present-day Northern Guinea and Southern Mali. power of humor to escape. page 2 There were other stories the people loved to hear over and over. Leopard obeyed. At first he was very successful and obtained all Some stories were about the history of the tribe. Some were the food he wanted. One day, however, he was unable to catch about great wars and battles. Some were about everyday life. anything at all. There was usually only one storyteller per village. If one village Being very hungry, he wondered what he could have for dinner. attempted to steal a storyteller from another village, it was Suddenly he remembered that the cat had quite a large family. cause for war. The Griots were not the only people who could tell He went straight to her home and found her absent. a story. Anyone could shout, “Come hear, come hear!” But the Never thinking of her kindness to him, Leopard only remembered Griots were the “official” storytellers. The village Griot did not that he was hungry, and he ate all her kittens. When Cat discov- have to work the fields; their job was to tell stories well. ered this dreadful act, she was so angry that she refused to have A thousand years later, new stories about new triumphs and new anything more to do with the great creature.
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