ORIGINS: Griots originate from the Mande empire in Mali during the 13th century. Griots are known for their storytelling and musical ability, often reflected by the sabar drum. The postcolonial urban dance music mbalax, the Wolof word describing percussion music style, comes from the sabar drum and dance practices and events. In the postcolonial period, in the late 1960s Senegalese musicians and griots fused urban dance musics, primarily from the Afrodiaspora with the sabar. The new genre 

Role of the Griot

Griots in West Africa are an endogomous caste , that is, hereditary curators of culture. Griots preserve history and thrive as cultural curators through music, dance, storytelling, advisors to families and authorative figures such as politicians. 

Griots hold the community together through maintaining genealogies of families, performing poetry, and officiating at lifecycle ceremonies, festivals and events. 

Something that is often overlooked is the religous undertones of the mighty griots. They helped retain ubiquity of Islam by singing praise to Sufi saints.

Unlike most other societies in Western Africa and the world, the Griots are matrilineal. Their family history and bloodline are traced through the mothers. This shows the importance of women in their society.  To this day griot women play pivotal roles in the organizing of Sabar performance events. For example, there are women's associations that host Sabar's once a month to bring the community together and raise money to support the community. Another example can be found in how our very own Lamine Toure takes his last name from his mother's side.