About the Griot Tradition

In Mande society the griot, or jeli, served as a historian, advisor, praise singer, and storyteller. These musicians served as walking libraries, preserving and sharing the stories and traditions of their culture through song. This inherited tradition, with its deep connections to spiritual, social, and political powers, has been passed down through generations since the 14th century. Diali’s mother, MoussuKeba Diebate, and his father, Ibrahima Cissokho, both hailed from long and celebrated lines of griots. Historically, each village had their own griot who told tales of births, deaths, marriages, battles, hunts, affairs, and other important events and celebrations.