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The following is another excerpt from the story of our travels to Burkina Faso. Read along as we brave the Metro in Paris, become red with African Dust in Burkina Faso, and climb rickety ladders to reach rooftops. Our intent? To learn more about Earth Roofs in the Sahel and to see for ourselves the life-changing effect of this program. If you’re reading for the first time, you can see the other entries here.

It is on that first day in Boromo that we meet Djeliba. He rides up on a bicycle to say hello, and Laure introduces him to us. “He is the Djeliba,” she says. We shake our heads, a little blankly. “He is the communicator of history for the community. It is very important,” she adds.

Djeliba is a title and a name. There are many Djelibas, also called griots, and I believe that the Djeliba that we met was named Djeliba Lazarre, but since everyone called him simply Djeliba, I never was completely sure about this.

It is hard to find a suitable role in our world that would be close to the role of Djeliba. He is an oral historian, and remembers the stories and histories of the community in order to retell them. But he is more than that, he is the communicator, and he takes the role of translator, at times. When something needs to be said, Djeliba is the one who says it, and he is able to use all the poetic license that he chooses, in order to say it well. (And with large impressive gestures!)

He has a beautiful role as encourager, too. There were a few times that we sat around the table and Djeliba talked about the accomplishments of each person present. All the way from cooking the chicken, to taking the photographs, to being a good driver, to running AVN in Boromo. Every person’s contribution was significant, everyone was mentioned. It was one of the biggest inspirations about being there. I don’t know that I’ve ever felt as warm and included as when Djeliba gestured toward me and said, “Resel, Photograph!” (Resel is sort of how he said my name.) Or as happy and content as when Djeliba pointed out the hard work of each person.

Over and over again, people tell us that he is a very important person. That his responsibility is very big and he carries the history of the people. A completely unassuming and inclusive person, he is extremely respected.

On our first night, after eating dinner with the Youlou family, Djeliba sings for a long time. He sings along with his talking drum; welcoming songs and happy songs. We sit and listen, clapping and laughing under the flickering fluorescent lights until finally everyones’ eyes are heavy and it is time to head for bed.

The next morning in the first light, we leave on our overnight journey, ready to see as many villages as we possibly can. Djeliba chooses to come with us. At the time it seems great that he’s joining us, but we really have no idea what an amazing effect his presence will have on our travels.