'Griot' designates an endogamic group specializing in history, story-telling, singing, music, and dance. Griot is a word coined by the French, supposedly invented after the noisy behavior of the members of the group ("crie haut"-shouts). The group exists mainly in the strictly organized Sahel and Savannah societies of West Africa. The Malinke are usually considered as the most hierarchal of all, but the phenomenon is found in many other societies such as Wolof, the Pular (Fulani and Tukulor), the Moors, the Tuareg, the Hausa (i.e., in virtually every country in West Africa).

There are many myths about the origins of the group. The most popular among the Malinke relates that in dire circumstances, an older brother sacrificed some of his flesh so that his younger brother would not starve. When the younger discovered his brother's sacrifice, he committed himself to his brother's service and pledged himself to sing praises to his brother in public. The somewhat grisly parts of the tale may indicate one reason why griots are low in the social and professional order in almost all of these societies.

The griot's traditional activities encompass everything related to public or private communication: oral history, genealogy, singing, music, dance, buffoonery, messages, announcements, and diplomacy. Butchers often come from griotic families. In Wolof country, the RAABE' are dealers in fabrics, diplomats, and political advisers who occupy the highest status among griots.

One of the most respected functions of the griotic craft is to lead an army to the battle field with singing and music. Although griots are exempt from military duty and usually safe from harm even in defeat, many would fight alongside the aristocracy. In that case they were treated as any other soldier and received their share of the spoils after victories. Every griot family is sponsored by a noble family that provides money, protection, and prestige in exchange for loyalty and public praise.

Griots have their own hierarchy based on professional activities and the social status of their sponsors. They had slaves also. In many societies, especially among the Wolof, the ruling king might have had a griot spouse. Their offspring would have a dual status.

In recent decades, certain non-hereditary griotic performers have become popular. Those who inherited the status include some who deplore the commercialization of the tradition. Others from griotic lineages are employed in new professional positions in the field of communications; journalism, public relations, advertising, and brokerage, for example.