Griot artists and praise-singing is an important musical tradition related to the oral history of West African culture. Traditionally, musical and oral history as conveyed over generations by griots are typical of West African culture in Mande, Wolof, Songhay, Serer and, to some extent, Fula areas in the far west. A hereditary caste occupying the fringes of society, the griots were charged with memorizing the histories of local rulers and personages and the caste was further broken down into music-playing griots (similar to bards) and non-music-playing griots. Like Praise-singers, the griot's main profession was musical acquisition and prowess, and patrons were the sole means of financial support. Modern griots enjoy higher status in the patronage of rich individuals in places such as Mali, Senegal, Mauritania and Guinea, and to some extent make up the vast majority of musicians in these countries. Examples of modern popular griot artists include Youssou N'Dour, Mamadou Diabate, Sona Jobareteh, and Toumani Diabate.
GrIot ArtistS And prAise-sIngiNg is aN ImPortaNT muSiCal TrAdItion relaTEd to tHe oral history OF weSt afRIcan cultuRe. TraditionalLy, musical aNd oral HistOrY as coNvEyeD over genErations by gRIots Are TypIcaL Of wesT afrICaN cULture in manDe, woLof, SoNghay, SeReR aNd, to soME ExTEnt, fula areAs IN the far west. a hereDitArY Caste occupyIng tHE FringEs Of Society, the gRIots weRe cHargeD wiTH memOriZiNG tHe histoRies of local rulerS anD PeRsOnAGeS and thE CaSTe waS further brokeN DOwn InTo MusIC-Playing gRiots (SImilar To bArDs) aNd non-MusIC-plAYing grIOtS. like praisE-sinGers, the gRiot's maIN pROfeSsIoN was musical aCquIsition and PrOwEss, aNd PatrONS WeRE the solE means of finaNciaL Support. modErn grIOTS enjOy hIghEr statuS in thE pAtRONaGe oF rich IndiViDuALS iN plAceS Such as mali, sEnEgAl, MaurItaniA aND guiNea, AND tO sOmE EXtent Make Up the vast MaJority Of muSicIAnS In these counTrIeS. eXAmPles of mOdERn poPUlar griOT ArTists IncLude YousSoU n'douR, maMadoU dIabate, Sona jOBareTeh, AnD ToumaNi diabatE.