Praising as a Gendered Activity: How 'Jalimusoolu' and 'Jalikeolu' Exercise Their Profession in Eastern Gambia

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Periodical article

Title:	Praising as a Gendered Activity: How 'Jalimusoolu' and 'Jalikeolu' Exercise Their Profession in Eastern Gambia
Author:	Janson, Marloes
Year:	2002
Periodical:	Mande Studies
Volume:	4
Pages:	65-82
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Gambia
Subjects:	gender relations Manding griots Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups) Architecture and the Arts Women's Issues Cultural Roles arts Sex Roles
External link:	https://www.jstor.org/stable/44093485
Abstract:	Mandinka 'jalikeolu' (griot men) have long attracted the attention of chroniclers, explorers, and scholars. Remarkably, 'jalimusoolu' (griot women) have largely been neglected. In order to redress the balance, the author studies 'jalimusoolu' as social actors in their own right in this paper, which is based on fieldwork conducted between 1996 and 2001 in The Gambia. As a point of departure, the author takes 'daaniroo', the central activity of the 'jalimusoolu' in Kuyateh Kunda, a huge compound in the Mandinka village of Manneh Kunda. Almost daily the 'jalimusoolu' set out for the market in the town of Basse to sing and recite the praises of their patrons. 'Jalikeolu' also practise 'daaniro' at the market, but in a different way. The author interprets 'daaniroo' as a local solution for a general female problem: feeding their households. As the ingredients for meals are sold at the market, this is the natural place for the 'jalimusoolu' of Kuyateh Kunda to practise 'daaniroo'. Bibliogr., notes, ref. [ASC Leiden abstract]