Bard: A poet, traditionally one reciting epics and associated with a particular oral tradition.
Epic of Sundiata: An epic poem of the Malinke people that tells the story of the hero Sundiata Keita, the founder of the Mali Empire. This tale is often told by griots.
Mande People: A large ethnic group in West Africa who have a caste-based society where griots are an important part.