Oral history in modern Mali

The story of the founder of Mali, Sunjata Keita, is largely based on oral history.

Oral history may be defined as the preservation and interpretation of historical, cultural or personal experiences by way of a speaker.

The origins of oral history in Mali may be traced back to the story of Sunjata Keita.

The current state of oral history in Mali has travelled to other realms like popular culture and politics.

Jeliya described as the "art of the griot" refers to a type of "musical and verbal artist".

Suso writes: "A day will come When bush fowls will lay their eggs on the site of your deserted town.

He says here is your gold.’ When he had done that, Sunjata buried his mother; Then he and Nyakhaleng Juma Suukho, And his younger brother, And Bala Faaseega Kuyate Rose up and went.

When he and Bala Faaseega Kuyate were on their way, They had gone far into the bush, And they had been travelling for a long time when Bala said, ‘I Am terribly hungry.’ Sunjata said, ‘Wait here.’ He went into a clump of thick bush, He examined the calf of his leg where there was plenty of flesh and he cut some off.

When he had cut it into thin strips, he cooked it, Then he pounded the leaves of a medicinal shrub and then tied up his leg, He came back, And he said to Bala, ‘Here is some meat’".

Oral historians in modern Mali often act as mediators between those from different political parties.

Jansen's work provides a detailed account of other skills that oral historians / griots need in modern-day Mali.

Jansen describes a griot's skills as a means to “master and manipulate the processes of ‘heating’ and ‘cooling down’ social situations”.

Oral historians in modern Mali acting as negotiators do not allow the parties to meet until the problem at hand is solved.

[10] Likewise, the repetitive nature of oral history transforms messages and creates similar yet slightly different versions of historical events.

Jansen describes “slowing down negotiations” as essential to appease both sides of conflicting parties.

[11] Jansen's presentation of griots in modern Mali as messengers depicts the transformation of oral historians over time.

During the Mali Empire, oral historians often were limited to working with a specific family or emperor but in current Mali, oral historians are no longer limited but can act as messengers between various political parties or other groups.

Hoffman views the relationship between griots and nobles as showing a sharp distinction between castes.

Hoffman writes, “This [the caste system] was a central issue for the griots and nobles present at this Kita celebration.

[13] Hoffman writes, "Living up to one's caste ideals is a source of pride in Mande; violating them a cause for disgrace."

In Status and Identity in West Africa: Nyamakalaw of Mande, David C. Conrad also discusses the relationship between nobles and griots, writing: "Another revealing aspect of the relationship between nobles and griots is the asymmetry of their mutual accountability.

Such a willingness to criticize emphasizes the fact that griots do have in Mali despite their position in the caste system.

Also included in Conrad's book is Cherif Keita's essay "Jaliya in the Modern World: A Tribute to Banzumana Sissoko and Massa Makan Diabate", in which Cherif Keita presents a "tribute to contemporary bards".