Critical Review 1

        The Counsel and Skinner reading were both interesting. The Counsel reading focused more on Mali, Guinea, Gambia, and Senegal. The idea of negritude was a major topic within this reading and the conflict between Senghor and Toure was a highlight of the reading. The Skinner reading focused a lot on the post-colonial history of Mali, specifically the capital, Bamako. Pertaining to music, both readings elaborated on the conflicts and sometimes corruption of government by stating the lack of funding received in developing national musical programs. Another thematic similarity in the readings was the advancement of African arts and that the role griots played in that was major. In the Counsel reading, griots were the central arbiter between Mali, Senegal and Guinea. In the Skinner reading, they played a major historical role and cultural role in Mali because they shared a relationship with the ruling elite. Another similarity in these readings was the mentioning of the political party the Parti Progressiste Soudanais (PSP) led by Fily Dabo Sissoko. Politicians who sought to bolster their credibility as reputable and capable political leaders in Mali and other nations laid the foundation of state patronage of artists, fashioned by the politicization of popular musical performance.
        I found it interesting how important a role the griots played. In Counsel he mentions that an election can be won depending on which political organization had the better known griots. These people are essentially musicians. While they do have other cultural responsibilities, they are essentially 'praise singers' who are used for their cultural influence. Their ties with the elite class makes it that much more suspicious. The system is a modernized monarchy because one cannot work to become a griot, you must be born into it. When describing culture, Skinner states how its "an active and hegemonic (or power-inflected) process of organizing communal experience and social relations" (Fox 2004: 31) "in which power and meaning are not placed in theoretical opposition but are shown to be intimately linked in an inter-subjective matrix"(Skinner 18). This relates to Senghor and how the French influence over Senegal was hegemonic. The culture has  been so ingrained with European ideals that griots have become like Catholic priests in Rome. They are untouchable as long as they support the king. In terms of the American system, they are the lobbyists who bounce back and forth between political parties and work for the highest pay. The system has been diluted and is full of corruption. The lack of funding for 'indigenous music' on the behalf of Senghor is enough evidence to show how ingrained Europe's culture has been on African culture. Is the role of a griot still the same to this day or has it lessened or increased in the pan-African political world?