Final answer:
The statement is true; in Mande culture, the oral tradition is maintained by bards known as jeliw or gelihu, who are custodians of oral history, fulfilling roles as historians, advisors, and musicians.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Mande culture, the oral tradition is indeed the domain of bards known as jeliw or gelihu, making the statement true.
These individuals are traditional custodians of oral history in their communities, and they perform multiple roles, including historians, advisors, mediators, and musicians. In much the same way as oral traditions in other societies, such as among the Griots reciting histories of Ancient Mali and Songhai, the jeliw maintain and preserve the histories, cultural knowledge, and collective memory of the Mande people through their recitations and performances. As in many societies with strong oral traditions, the role of the jeliw in Mande culture is not just to entertain but also to educate and maintain continuity with the past.