Power and Politics, The Cows of Dolo Ken Paye: Resolving Conflicts Among the Kpelle

These people put such thought into all they do, they set out to find the bet option and they look at the situation from all different angles. A wounded cow was found among the people, and eventually they came to the conclusion that a neighboring famer had hurt it with a machete. They treated it like a real court case, and had many different important people's opinions. Clan Chiefs were first discussed with, and from there Paramount Chiefs were brought in for words of advice. What I found interesting in the video was all the methos of how they distinguished if the person was innocent or guilty. The Kpelle had a supernatural method for determining guilt or innocence by making the person accused drink a poison. If the perosn died, he/she was guilty. If the person vomited the poison, he/she was innocent. This procedure is now outlawed, and the Kpelle did not use it very much.
The next method was called the Hot Oil/Hot Knife Ordeal. This consisted if a hot oil/hot knif being placed on the accused. If the person was burned, he/she was guilty, and if the person was not burned, he/she was innocent. Determining guilt or innocence was called an "ordeal." Ordeals are scarcely used to settle disputes. When the cow came into the village, they thought that the famer would come clean and admit everything so none of the above would be necessary. Since ordeals are not typically used, witnesses and cross examinations are now used to settle disputes. The people were content knowing that action was being taken, and many requests were being carried out from the Clan and Paramount Chiefs.
Although you do not find out who wounded the calf, it is a very interesting video because you are able to see how different cultures resolve and settle conflicts. The methods the Kpelle use are different than any method we use, but they still treat it like a real court case as our culture does today. This is a culture that really puts thought into every decision they make, and they try to come to the best conclusion possible. At the same time, they see the best in people and think that he/she would admit their wrong doing towards the calf. The Kpelle are a very round and diverse culture, but are very thorough in their beliefs.