Names and Self-Discovery (Keita: Heritage of the Griot)

Asking someone for his or her own name is a common courtesy. Names are simply a title, a mere mention that identifies a being. Human civilization has always worshipped certain names however. Names, and specifically, last names, have a profound history; names tell society where one’s background derives from. Recognizing where one’s own heritage comes from is an important facet in pursuing the good life.

Keita: Heritage of the Griot is a movie that centers on a character named Djeiliba, a griot, sharing history with Mabo. Mabo deals with a governmental system (the classroom) and a modernizing home life. The griot explains to Mabo the meaning of Mabo’s own name; this causes issues. The issues lie within the tug of war between modernization and tradition. The main argument of the movie is inspired by the notion: is tradition or modernization more important? In a globalizing society, modernization seems to be the valid path. After all, is modernization not inspired by tradition? The balances between the two transitions is often greatly debated.

Society should have a split difference of 50/50. Modernization and tradition should closely intertwine. Tradition is important to maintain because it represents civilization. Tradition is what sets humans apart from one another and other species. Tradition inspires ideas, heritage, and connection. Modernization on the other hand is inspired by tradition, more specifically: advancement. Modernization is ubiquitous and is also positive. Society should go reform. Society should improve technologies, but tradition should always be the root of a human. Tradition and culture shape the human condition. Without tradition, human civilization is nothing but a lifeless by passer.

Turning back on to Keita: Heritage of the Griot, Mabo is forced to choose between modernization and tradition. The Djeliba’s story runs parallel with the events in the present of day life of the movie, wherein both Sundjata, the main protagonist of Djeliba’s story, and Mabo have to discover their respective meanings to life on their own. Both are left without direction (Mabo is left without direction when the Djeliba cuts his own story halfway through), and both have to learn to live their own ways. The main message portrayed by the movie is that one must find one’s own journey. One must have the fundamentals of both modernization and tradition and apart from the fundamentals, one must pursue life on his or her own.

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