Les Griots Unit [digital download]

This robust unit was created by a member of the 2025 Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad in Côte d'Ivoire team.

This unit contains ten (10) lessons about les griots et les griottes and is appropriate for intermediate and advanced students.

The unit addresses the following essential questions: 

• What role do griots play in West African societies?

• In what ways do griots help preserve cultural traditions?

• How do griots influence their communities?

• How do griots contribute to social cohesion in their communities?

and has the following objectives and goals:

• Students will understand the multifaceted role of the griot in West African societies, including their roles as historians, genealogists, praise-singers, mediators, and musicians. 

• Students will gain an appreciation for the importance of oral tradition in preserving cultural knowledge and history. 

• Students will be able to connect the griot's role to broader themes of cultural preservation, social structure, and historical memory.

All documents are the keyed version, so teachers will need to remove the answers before using with students.