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Senegal - Griot playing a Xalam
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Senegal - Griot playing a Xalam
A Griot Xalam Player - Senegal. The most common stringed instrument in Senegal. Griots of many ethnic groups play it, including the Wolof, Sereer, Mandinko, Malinke, Fulbe, and Tukuloor. The xalam generally has a dryer, more nasal sound than the Kora (see: 10951070). A Griot is a West African historian, storyteller, praise singer, poet and/or musician. The griot is a repository of oral tradition, and is also often seen as something of a societal leader due to his traditional position as an adviser to royal personages. Date: circa 1901
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Media ID 11582637
© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection
Advisor Bard Beautiful Instrument Minstrel Musician Oral Player Senegal Senegalese Stringed Tradition Troubadour Wandering Griot Storyteller
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This photograph captures the essence of a Senegalese Griot as she skillfully plays the Xalam, a stringed instrument that holds a significant place in West African culture. The Xalam, which is commonly used among various ethnic groups including the Wolof, Sereer, Mandinko, Malinke, Fulbe, and Tukuloor, has a unique, dryer, and more nasal sound compared to the more widely known Kora. The Griot, an integral part of West African society, is a historian, storyteller, praise singer, poet, and musician. They are the repositories of oral tradition and are often regarded as societal leaders due to their traditional position as advisers to royal personages. This woman Griot, with her enchanting expression and the Xalam in her hands, embodies the wisdom and artistry of her ancestors. Her presence transports us to a time when storytelling was a communal activity, and music was the language that bound communities together. The photograph, estimated to have been taken around 1901, offers a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of Senegal and West Africa as a whole. The Xalam player, with her youthful energy and the seriousness etched on her face, represents the wandering minstrels and troubadours of yesteryears, whose songs and stories continue to echo through the annals of history. This photograph is a testament to the enduring power of music and oral tradition in shaping the cultural fabric of African societies.
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