He sings about your family, preserving your ancient stories, traditions, and history; he comes to settle a dispute, to speak about health care, or to entertain you. He is informing, advising, and educating people through songs or words, accompanied by his Kora. All these are the responsibilities of traditional Griot like Sainey Jobarteh from The Gambia.
The Griots belong to the Mandinka tribe, with an oral history tradition dating back hundreds of years, passed on from one generation to the next through songs, proverbs, and stories by members of Griot families. In history, the Griots were very close to the kings, as a personal adviser. They are well respected, and people are listening to their words. The presence of a Griot is required for celebrations, such as naming ceremonies, weddings, funerals, or village and family meetings. There are various forms of the traditional Griot, the storyteller, singer, kora player, drummer, or dancer. Men, as well as women, can become a Griot.
Sainey Jobarteh is a 35 years old Griot from the Mandinka tribe. He’s born in a Griot family, raised in a small village named Boraba in the inland of The Gambia. The Jobarteh family is known for singing and playing the Kora instrument; he is very proud to be a Griot; it’s not only a profession, but also his life, and he wants to pass on the tradition. Sainey’s father has instructed him in the Griot tradition, as his ancestors have passed on the tradition orally to their following generations.
Sainey today plays on his father’s Kora, which has a crescent moon and a five-pointed star, as a sign of his spirituality. A Kora is a Mandinka harp with 21 strings made out of a half calabash and covered with cow skin and a long wooden neck. There is a hole in the Kora on one side to put the money in. People are asking him to attend celebrations or to be a mentor within family matters. Sometimes he is traveling from one village to another with his Kora; the people gather together in the evening after work. He entertains people, makes them laugh, and gives them new ideas or suggestions. He says it’s learning through music.
His songs are about history, behavior, fairness, schooling, or about his family history. He is working on a new piece on how terrorism changes the world. Sometimes, other Griots, singer, or drummer are joining him; they play together. He sings for the people around him, one by one. If he sings for you, you have to give him something—money, or food or a bed for the night.