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EPISODE · Nov 6, 2025 · 23 MIN

The Living Libraries of West Africa

from The Atlas Obscura Podcast · host SiriusXM Podcasts & Atlas Obscura

Journalist Eliot Stein explores the tradition of the djeli – African storytellers who memorize and pass down oral histories – tracing it all the way back to the Mali Empire. Along the way, he tracked down a modern djeli, who is upholding and remixing the tradition. And he found him in an unexpected place: working in a convenience store.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What this episode covers

Journalist Eliot Stein explores the tradition of the djeli – African storytellers who memorize and pass down oral histories – tracing it all the way back to the Mali Empire. Along the way, he tracked down a modern djeli, who is upholding and remixing the tradition. And he found him in an unexpected place: working in a convenience store.

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The Living Libraries of West Africa

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of The Atlas Obscura Podcast?

This episode is 23 minutes long.

When was this The Atlas Obscura Podcast episode published?

This episode was published on November 6, 2025.

What is this episode about?

Journalist Eliot Stein explores the tradition of the djeli – African storytellers who memorize and pass down oral histories – tracing it all the way back to the Mali Empire. Along the way, he tracked down a modern djeli, who is upholding and...

Can I download this The Atlas Obscura Podcast episode?

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