Griots and Griottes: Masters of Words and Music (African Expressive Cultures)
"Hale's magnum opus is an invaluable reference for scholars in religious studies, history, music, anthropology, linguistics, and literature." —Religious Studies Review"[Puts] the study of West African oral tradition on a higher level." —International Journal of African Historical Studies"[An] encyclopedic introduction to and overview of this ubiquitous and important West African figure.... [A] valuable addition to the literature on both African societies and the African Diaspora." —Choice"[Reveals] griots to be much more complex and multifaceted social agents than previously understood." —African Arts"Thomas A. Hale's clearly written, informative work is a comprehensive historical and contemporary account of the griot phenomenon, which originated in West Africa....It is, in its entirety, of benefit to a variety of researchers from fields as diverse as history, music, anthropology and sociology, linguistics and literature." —Karen Ferreira-Meyers, University of Swaziland, African Studies Quarterly E-Jrnl, Vol. 11.2-3 Spring 2010