Alex Haley's "Roots" introduced griots to the world outside of West Africa and generated an enormous amount of interest in their profession. "Griots and Griottes" is the first comprehensive portrait of the world of this uniquely African profession, starting with their discovery by the outside world in 1352 by a North African traveller, Ibn Battuta, to the present. Griots in their multiple roles and functions are unique to Africa. They play many roles in society - genealogist, historian, spokesperson, diplomat, musician, teacher, warrior, praise singer, master of ceremonies, and advisor. "Griots and Griottes", based on over thirty years of research and travel in Africa, tells the story of these remarkable wordsmiths and performers addressing the nature of their verbal and musical art, the role of female griots, or griottes, how griots and griottes fit into their societies, and what their future might be in Africa and the rest of the world.