Djeliba Badje, or officially, Djibo Badje, is the last of the great Zarma griots, even though a few in a newer generation strive to become master griots too. As Djeliba’s role was to inherit, his first apprenticeship was to his father, himself a master griot that had also learned from the rich Malian traditions on study trips. Djeliba in his turn also travelled to Mali and developed his own voice while accompanying himself on the mollo (tree-string lute).
After LP records brought recordings to Niger, cassette tapes were the first medium available for recording and the major means through which the music was shared from the late 80’s, to the 90’s, and up until 2010. Epic tales of heroes and war legends could be heard on long radio broadcasts of legends and longer 90-minute tapes that could usually hold the length of most of the legend.
Before, radio was the only way it was possible to hear an uninterrupted version. Cassette tapes were the only means to own your own copy but it also results in cutting in order to change sides. Cassettes tapes and the radio became the major way most people were able to gain multiple listens of legends like these to fully learn and follow all the intricate linguistic elements found in the long tale. However, now, new media allows for lengthy uninterrupted recordings.