People / group
Griots
Griots are hereditary oral historians, praise-singers and musicians of West Africa who preserve genealogies and historical traditions. They held a recognised place in the social structure of the region's states. In the Jolof Empire they formed part of the caste-based social order and maintained the memory of rulers and lineages.
Mentioned in 3 profiles
Mentioned in 2 state histories
See also
Cite this entry
- APA
- The Epoch Institute. (2026). Griots. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/griots
- MLA
- “Griots.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/griots. Accessed .
- Chicago
- The Epoch Institute. “Griots.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/griots.
- Harvard
- The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Griots’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/griots (Accessed: ).
Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻