Short black histories to promote the release of our black history graphic novel, My Roots Go Deep in June 2024. Sign up to our mailing list so you don’t miss out
Picture walking down elaborately decorated halls into the heart of a grand palace where you see the king and his people listening to what sounds like a fountain of music. Many strings being plucked so rhythmically that you assume the music comes from an band of 3.
But it is one player. A Griot (story teller), reciting the history of the kings and queens, warriors and scholars of the land whilst playing the Kora.
The Kora is a 21 stringed instrument where the player can play the base, accompaniment and improvise simultaneously.
Watch the video of Toumani Diabaté to see.
Dynasties of these story tellers (popular families today are the Jobarte and Diabaté) proudly recite entire histories of the land to rhythm.
Legend has it that there was one popular story told about a wealthy king who spent too much money on his pilgrimage to Mecca. This king was Mansa Musa.
There is a strong history or recital in West African civilisations. Stories of West Africans laughing at Europeans when they ask them where their knowledge is written is rife.
“If I have to write it down, I don’t know it well enough” were common replies.
To learn more about the Griots, go to blackhistory.school and go to the “West African’s golden age” section
Please share and for more information, go to www.blackhistory.school