One West African Jeliba (Griot) next to Donald Trump, praise-singing him, would have solved all the wahala in the world. Imagine one of our Jeli’s telling King Trump, “The world is now under his feet,” how with one stroke of a pen he liberated America, created shock and awe, and caused world leaders to crawl to his feet to beg. The ripple effects of his actions even liberated Africa from neocolonialism and weaned them out of aid.
And with one stroke of his pen, he can eradicate poverty in the world.. Imagine King Trump waking up every morning to praises and wise counseling by one of our Jeliba’s supported by sweet melodic Kora music in the lawns of the White House. King Trump, having liberated America and Made America Great Again, is now empowered to Make The Planet Great Again.
Chai, see how our Jeliba’s could make a huge difference for the world here.
Long before colonial and neocolonial destruction of our indigenous cultures, our Jeliba’s, Finahba’s, and Gawlo’s were the wise counsels around our African Kings (Mansa’s). Sometimes backed with sweet melodic music from Kora, Xalam or the Ngoni, they served as the link between the people and the King, they echoed the sentiment of the people in wise ways to the King, and communicated empathy in stories and proverbs that touched the heart of the King.
Our Jeliba’s, Gawlo’s, and Finahba’s were the scholars of the land, adept in history, culture and judicial matters; hence on key decision matters of the land or issues of justice, they were able to counsel the King wisely based on historical, legal or cultural precedents. The Jeliba’s, Gawlo’s and Finahba’s were held in high esteem by society that in times of war and conquest, they were not to be killed or imprisoned, because their knowledge was sought by both the friend and foe.
Imagine King Trump today with one of our Jeliba’s and so much empathy the world needs today from Palestine to Sudan, Ukraine, and global poverty.
Imagine what colonialism did to our Jeliba institution in West Africa and how a significant part of our culture has been reduced to beggars in our modern-day body politics.
