OUR FUTURE: the Forecaster as tomorrow's griot
Today I would like to exchange around an idea I dug out from our Future of Forecasting space (created last year) in the Trend Atelier community.
I have been plunged into a mix of forensic research and flexing creative story telling to imagine possible futures. It was intense mentally and made me ponder, as usual.
What came to mind was the role of the Griot. I would love to know what you think.
If Futures Literacy becomes common, taught in primary schools and seen as an essential skill, part of everyone's tool box to navigate a complex world... then where would this leave people who dedicate their entire lives to forecasting and telling the story of the future?
The Griot is the name for a West African historian, storyteller, praise singer, poet, or musician who communicates oral traditions and serves as a leader in their community, often advising even royals. Check out this reference here: The View from Fez (further read here).
I think as futurists we act as a conduit. But what remains interchangeable is the ways in which we serve our communities.
To quote Wikipedia's definition of the Griot:
"The West African griot is a troubadour, the counterpart of the medieval European minstrel... The griot knows everything that is going on... He is a living archive of the people's traditions... The virtuoso talents of the griots command universal admiration. This virtuosity is the culmination of long years of study and hard work under the tuition of a teacher who is often a father or uncle. The profession is by no means a male prerogative. There are many women griots whose talents as singers and musicians are equally remarkable."
Could it be that, in the future, the Forecaster would act as the Griot, as a living repository of the past, future and present, accompanying people as an artist, poet/ philosopher/ researcher/ social scientist/ story teller [ADD MORE HERE PLEASE!]
.... bringing together the knowledge of everyone into told stories of the future, propagating them in our communities, on whichever platforms exists at that given time.
In that sense, one could ask, is grand priestess Lidewij Edelkoort a kind of Griot?
As forecasting skills become increasingly common and in demand, through programs such as Unesco's Futures Literacy and the increasing media attention of the future forecaster's role, with a multitude of 'The future of' reports out there, we should ask ourselves what that means for the future of the forecaster in society, as a unique role.
I am only touching the surface here, not diving into how Artificial Intelligence will and is already radically changing foresight as an industry.
Where will we land? Conduits for myth making and world building?
It is interesting to witness that, as the democratisation of future forecasting happens, there is an increased interest in fictioning as a key part of forecasting.
This is reflected in an appetite for speculative design, science fiction, as well as a new brand of writing about future foresight, which often reads as a creative story telling essay.
The griot were artists, advisors often tasked with future telling. They played a fundamental and unique role in their societies.
When and if future forecasting is democratised and automated, what will make our role unique?
I look forward to your ideas and explorations. If you want to connect reply directly here anytime.
By Geraldine Wharry