Baba’s Suggested Reading List

This list is in no way exhaustive. These titles have been listed simply as an introductory bibliography into the art and craft of Jaliyaa. If you have further need for a more detailed bibliography, or would like other suggestions on reading, don’t hesitate to contact us via our Guest Book. If you would like to secure Baba for a performance at your event, begin the process by filling out and submitting our Online Booking Form or simply call toll free from anywhere in the U.S. to 1.866.525.4922.

Camara, Sory. 1992. Gens de la parole: essai sur la condition et le role des griots dans la Societe Malinké. Paris : Karthala.

Charry, Eric. 2000. Mande Music : Tradition and Modern Music of the Maninka and Mandinka of Western Africa. Chicaco: University of Chicago Press.

Diabate, Massa Makan. 1970. Janjon et autres chants populaires du Mali. Paris : Présence Africaine.

Gleason, Judith. 1994. Leaf and bone: African Praise-Poems. New York: Penguin.

Hale, Thomas A. 1998. Griot and Griottes. Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press.

Hampate, Amadou. 1974. Tongues that span the centuries: The Faithful Guardians of Africa’s Oral Tradition. UNESCO Courier.

Hoffman, Barbara G. 2000. Griots at War: Conflict, Conciliation, and Caste in Mande. Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press.

Innes, Gordon. 1974. Sundajata: Three Mandinka Versions. London: University of London.

- . 1976. Kaabu and Fuladu: Historical Narratives of the Gambian Mandinka. London: University of London.

- . 1978. Kelefa Saane: His Career Recounted by Two Mandinka Bards. London: University of London.

Irwin, Paul. 1981. Liptako Speaks: History of Oral Tradition in African. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

Jansen, Jan. 2000. The Griot’s Craft: An essay on oral tradition and diplomacy. Hamburg. Lit Verglag Münster.

Kaba, Mamadi. 1995. Anthologie de Chants Mandingues: Cote d’Ivoire, Guinee, Mali. Paris: L’Harmattan.

Knight, Roderic. 1973. Mandinka Jaliya: Professional Music of the Gambia. Ph.D.diss., University of California at Los Angeles.

Laye, Camara. 1980. The Guardian of the Word. New York: Random House.

McNaughton, Patrick R. 1993. The Mande Blacksmiths: Knowledge, Power and Art in West Africa. Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press.

Niane, D.T. 1986. Sundiata: an epic of old Mali. Hong Kong: Longman Group UK Limited.

Soyinka, Wole. 1990. Myth, Literature and the African World. Canto ed. Cambridge and New York: Cambridge University Press.

Watta, Umarou. 1985. The Human Thesis: A Quest for Meaning in African Epic. Ph.D.diss., University of Buffalo.