Final answer:
A Griot is an oral historian/praise-singer among the Mandinka group of Senegal-Gambia, vital in preserving history through storytelling and music.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Griot functions as an oral historian or praise-singer among the Mandinka ethnic group of Senegal-Gambia. Griots play a crucial role in preserving the history and culture of the people through oral traditions. They are skilled storytellers, musicians, and poets, who recite the histories of Ancient Mali and Songhai, often accompanying their narration with stringed instruments like the Kora and Ngoni. Griots maintain an array of historical narratives, including epic poems and praise songs that have been passed down through generations. Their contributions are central to the continuity of West African historical and cultural education.
Their significance can be traced back to important historical figures in West Africa such as the Mali Empire's Sundiata Keita and the Songhai Empire's Askia Muhammad. Griots have been instrumental in recording and sharing the achievements of these empires and their rulers, serving as a bridge between past and present in West African societies. Their practices have immensely contributed to our understanding of the region's history, which, before the common use of written records in the area, relied heavily on such oral historians.