Ancient Africa - Griots

What was the main job of the griot?

• Protecting the village

• Storytelling

• Fishing for food

• Working with iron

• Working in the salt mines

How did the griots help to teach the children of the village?

• Showing them how to farm

• Instructing them on ways to fight off the enemy

• Teaching them ways to fish and hunt for food

• Through messages on how to behave in their stories

• Teaching them how to read and write

Which instrument used by griots was a percussion instrument similar to a xylophone?

• Balafon

• Kora

• Ngoni

Besides musician and storyteller, what other job did the griot have for the village?

• Chief

• Blacksmith

• Historian

• Leader of the warriors

• Doctor

Which instrument used by griots was similar to a harp and was made from a vegetable called a calabash?

• Balafon

• Kora

• Ngoni

True or False: There are still some people working as griots in Africa today.

• TRUE

• FALSE

What important event was it important for the griot to remember?

• Births

• Marriages

• Wars

• Droughts

• All of the above

Which instrument used by griots was similar to a lute?

• Balafon

• Kora

• Ngoni

What instrument do some historians believe the Ngoni became after traveling to America with African slaves?

• Guitar

• Trombone

• Harmonica

• Banjo

• Fiddle

How was the history of the village kept by the griot?

• Through stories that were passed down

• Through cave paintings

• Using hieroglyphics on stone tablets

• All of the above

• None of the above