Griots, a uniquely African profession, fulfill a variety of roles asgenealogists, historians, spokespersons, diplomats, musicians, teachers, praisesingers, and advisors. Telling the story of these remarkable wordsmiths andperformers, Thomas A. Hale addresses the nature of their verbal and musical art, therole of female griots, or griottes, how griots and griottes fit into theirsocieties, and what their future might be in Africa and the rest of theworld.