Storytellers in East Africa Maintain Oral History By: Billy Maggs Lauren Adams Melissa Mubaraki

Introduction Ok so by the time we are done, you will be able to: Recognize storytellers helped maintain oral history in the cultures of West Africa. Recognize storytellers helped maintain oral history in the cultures of West Africa. Identify why they had oral history and not written history. Identify why they had oral history and not written history. Describe the history of The fall of Ghana (you will watch us do a play) Describe the history of The fall of Ghana (you will watch us do a play)

Story Tellers in East Africa The story tellers in east Africa were called Griots The story tellers in east Africa were called Griots These people were highly respected because they kept the history alive for centuries These people were highly respected because they kept the history alive for centuries Hey wait this is just like The Giver!!!!! Hey wait this is just like The Giver!!!!! Griots also told there stories in plays and songs Griots also told there stories in plays and songs

How storytelling developed In ancient east Africa there was only one written language (Arabic) In ancient east Africa there was only one written language (Arabic) Only certain people new how to write such as Muslim traders, government officials, and religious leaders. Only certain people new how to write such as Muslim traders, government officials, and religious leaders. This resulted in many people start to tell stories to tell there history. This resulted in many people start to tell stories to tell there history.

The Fall of Ghana Like the ancient griots, we are going to act out a play of how Ghana fell Like the ancient griots, we are going to act out a play of how Ghana fell You have to write this You do not have to write this

Summary None of the major early civilizations of West Africa developed a written language. None of the major early civilizations of West Africa developed a written language. Not popular Not popular They dont use a written language… but that didnt mean that they didnt record their history They dont use a written language… but that didnt mean that they didnt record their history Passed info through oral history telling Passed info through oral history telling The history laid in the hands of the story tellers The history laid in the hands of the story tellers West African storytellers were called griots. West African storytellers were called griots. Griots recited proverbs or short sayings of wisdom Griots recited proverbs or short sayings of wisdom