Before modern courts, here is how African communities handled conflicts

Nduta Waweru September 26, 2018

Before modern courts, here is how African communities handled conflicts

Yoruba

For this community, conflict resolution is carried out in three tiers. At the nuclear family levels, the head of the family, Bale, resolved cases such as conflicts among co-wives, brothers and sisters, truants, and street fights involving his children and his foster children or dependants.

The Mogaje, usually the most influential or eldest member of the extended family is responsible for resolving cases within the extended family while the Baale, a group of chiefs, will deal with cases between households in a quarter or ward under their jurisdiction.  All these units resolved civil cases such as land dispute, neglecting family, infidelity and inheritance problems.

Where these units could not resolve a case, it was handled by the Chief-in-council, highest traditional institution for conflict resolution, which had the power to hand a death sentence to an offender before it.

Criminal cases were resolved by the court of the king, which also acted as the appellate court.

Last Edited by:Nduta Waweru Updated: September 26, 2018

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