Mali Empire's Griots: The Living Libraries of West Africa
The Mali Empire: The Richest Civilization in History — Fexingo HistoryPlay episode
Show notes
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the role of the jeliw, the hereditary griot caste of the Mali Empire, who served as oral historians, praise singers, diplomats, and advisors. Drawing on the Kouroukan Fouga, the Sunjata epic, and accounts from Ibn Battuta, we examine how these masters of nyama (spiritual energy) preserved the empire's history across generations. Learn about Bala Fasséké, the first griot, the training of griots, their instruments like the kora and balafon, and how they functioned as counterweights to the farari warrior caste and the gbara council. We also discuss how the jeliw maintained genealogies, mediated conflicts, and ensured the legacy of rulers like Sundiata Keita and Mansa Musa. Finally, we tie it to the modern survival of griot traditions in Mali and Guinea. #MaliEmpire #Griots #Jeliw #SundiataKeita #MansaMusa #Nyama #BalaFasséké #Kora #Balafon #KouroukanFouga #OralHistory #WestAfrica #Timbuktu #IbnBattuta #Farari #Gbara #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
