In the context of examining the ancestral music of African Americans, the accompanied songs sung by griots from Sierra Leone were significant for several reasons.
First, griots were traditional West African bards who were responsible for preserving the history, culture, and traditions of their communities through music and storytelling. They were considered to be the keepers of the community's collective memory, and their songs often served as a means of passing down important cultural knowledge and values from one generation to the next.
Second, the accompanied songs sung by griots were typically accompanied by instruments such as the kora (a 21-stringed harp-lute), balafon (a wooden xylophone), and djembe (a goblet-shaped drum). These instruments were used to create a rich and complex musical landscape that was deeply rooted in the rhythms, melodies, and harmonies of West Africa.
Third, these songs were also significant as they were used as a means of transmitting cultural heritage and history across generations, and were a way of keeping the culture alive. These songs also served as a form of resistance during the time of slavery, as they were a means of maintaining a connection to their African heritage, and expressing their feelings about their forced displacement and enslavement.
Lastly, the accompanied songs sung by the griots, were also a way of preserving the oral tradition of the communities, and a way of passing down traditional stories, legends and historical events.