The impact of SNS on the African oral tradition: The case of Mande griots

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K01064
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 04030:Cultural anthropology and folklore-related
• Research Institution: Kokushikan University
• Principal Investigator: Suzuki Hiroyuki 国士舘大学, 法学部, 教授 (20276447)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: アフリカ / マンデ / グリオ / 口頭伝承 / 音楽 / SNS / デジタル・メディア

Outline of Final Research Achievements

I had researched on the influence of SNS (social networking service) on the African oral culture of today. SNS is increasing his importance as the communication tool in modern Africa. I conducted research on the way the griots who are professional reciter-singers of Mande people of West Africa utilize SNS for their musical activities at Abidjan, the economical capital of Ivory Coast.
The Mande griots hand down the epic of Sunjata, sing the praise songs in festivals and play as singers on the pop music scene. They make good use of the digital equipment to make their music and send out messages about their musical activities on SNS. Through these phenomena, I understand concretely how the African traditional oral culture is changing nowadays.

Free Research Field

文化人類学、アフリカ音楽、アフリカ文学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、アフリカの口承文化と最新のテクノロジーであるSNSとの関係に着目することで、伝統的世界とグローバル化との関係の一形態を具体的に解明した。一見すると対立関係にある両者であるが、音声と映像を瞬時に送信できるデジタルメディアはアフリカの伝統的な「声の文化」と相性がよく、グリオは積極的にSNSを活用しながら自身の音楽活動を展開していた。