Welcome to Griot: The Keeper of Stories – a unique audio library dedicated to preserving real stories from real people. Just like the griots of West Africa, who have passed down the wisdom, experiences, and memories of their communities through generations, our platform is a digital griot, connecting people through shared stories across time and place.

At Griot, we believe that every story has value. Each account offers a glimpse into a personal journey, a cultural insight, or a historic moment that deserves to be remembered. We invite you to explore our growing collection of authentic narratives, listen to the voices of people from all walks of life, and even contribute your own story to keep the tradition of storytelling alive.

Explore Stories Through Unique Categories

Griot organizes its library so you can discover stories that resonate with your interests or heritage. Each story is categorized by:

• • Time: Dive into stories from a specific year or decade, and travel through time as you explore memories from the past. Whether you’re interested in stories from a particular era or looking for recent accounts, the date category helps you connect with moments in history through personal narratives.

• • Place: Discover tales from various places across the globe. This category lets you explore stories rooted in different communities and cultures, bringing unique perspectives from cities, towns, villages, and countries around the world.

• • Themes: From humour, growing up, resilience and joy to traditions and milestones, each story is tagged with themes that reflect the essence of its message. This way, you can choose to listen to stories that speak to specific aspects of the human experience, whether they be moments of struggle, celebration, transformation, or heritage.

• • Origin: Some stories are told from generation to generation within families. Our family names category allows you to find stories connected to specific family lineages, preserving legacies and personal histories passed down over time. This is an opportunity to hear the voices and memories that form the tapestry of family and identity.

Record Your Own Story

We invite everyone to be a part of Griot’s mission by sharing your own story. Whether you want to share a cherished memory, an inspiring journey, or a lesson learned, Griot provides a space for everyone to contribute to this collective memory. Recording your story is easy and can be done directly on our platform – making Griot a living library of voices, wisdom, and experience.

Why the Name “Griot”?

In West African tradition, a Griot (pronounced “GREE-oh”) is a respected storyteller, historian, and keeper of cultural memory. For centuries, griots have held the stories of their communities, passing them down through oral tradition to preserve history and identity. At Griot, we honor this tradition by creating a digital space that echoes the purpose of these revered storytellers, ensuring that the stories of today are preserved for tomorrow.

Griot: The Keeper of Stories is more than an audio library – it’s a journey through lives and histories that shape who we are. Explore, listen, and become part of a tradition that values the power of storytelling. Let the voices of the past and present guide you into a richer understanding of the world, one story at a time.