In the epic of Sundiata, a griot explains the importance of his role as historian and how his profession has been passed down in his family.

I am a griot. It is I, Djeli Mamoudou Kouyate, son of Bintou Kouyate and Djeli Kedian Kouyate, master in the art of eloquence. Since time immemorial the Kouyates have been in the service of the Keita princess of Mali; we are vessels of speech, we are the repositories which harbour secrets many centuries old. The art of eloquence has no secrets for us; without us the names of kings would vanish into oblivion, we are the memory of mankind; by the spoken; word we bring to life the deeds and exploits of kings for younger generations.

Iderive my knowledge from my father Djeli Kedian, who also got it from his father; history holds no mystery for...