I was just thinking...Storytellers! Anansi, Aesop, and your Grandmother!

The people in my family are griots.

A griot is a West African term for a storyteller of family, tribe, nation and cultural history. 

A griot (/'gri.o?/; French pronunciation: ?[g?i.o]), jali or jeli (djeli or djéli in French spelling) is a West African historian, storyteller, praise singer, poet and/or musician. The griot is a repository of oral tradition and is often seen as a societal leader due to his traditional position as an adviser to royal personages. As a result of the former of these two functions, he is sometimes also called a bard.

"Though [the griot] has to know many traditional songs without error, he must also have the ability to extemporize on current events, chance incidents and the passing scene. His wit can be devastating and his knowledge of local history formidable".

Although they are popularly known as "praise singers", griots may use their vocal expertise for gossip, satire, or political comment.

Who do we have from our community that will have precise political commentary?

We are hidden away from commentary that will help our people because our time in front of the fire talking to our ancestors and our elders has been eliminated and the ideas of the dominate culture that is filtered through the televisions have become our concern and our touchstone.

Let's tell our stories and keep our culture alive!

Friday nite 5pm pacific time or 8pm eastern time

661-467-2407