Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Anthropology

Selected Works

Peter S. Allen

Anthropology

Articles 1 - 1 of 1

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

The Cinematic Griot, Peter S. Allen Apr 2012

The Cinematic Griot, Peter S. Allen

Peter S. Allen

In the Sahel, a griot is a bard who collects and recounts local history. He is the "custodian of society's traditions... linking past and present" and "master of the word" in a society where words are revered and "endowed with occult power" (p. xvi). For the Songhay of Niger, Jean Rouch is a griot, a cinematic griot who preserves on film essential aspects of Songhay history.