It was a warm day as we drove from the city of Dabola in Guinea, West Africa, the second poorest country in the world according to the World Almanac, to a remote family village miles off the well-traveled highway.

In search of the village through the tall grass and muddy swamps, the SUV became mired axle deep as we attempted to cross a muddy creek. The three of us, the project manager, the translator and myself worked feverishly to push the Toyota SUV onto higher ground. The SUV pulled out, the engine roaring with the wheels spinning, mud flying everywhere. The task of wiping mud from our clothing and drying our shoes was endless.

As we approached the village made up of thatch-roofed huts, we were invited to join the men sitting on the ground in the shade of a large tree. Most of the men were wearing long colorful robes, knitted caps and sandals. My assignment there was to explain the value of family villages working together rather than competing with each other to find larger markets and to improve their incomes. This would be a cooperative venture in improving the selling price of maize and vegetables grown for cash income. Mechanization is non-existent in these small family villages and without vehicles to transport the produce to the local market, the women are required to walk each day carrying the produce in baskets on their heads; the distance could be over ten miles. 

When we joined them, the Elders were holding a meeting to determine the punishment for a crime committed by one of their members.

We learned one of the villagers had taken, without permission, a roll of fencing wire and a pair of goats during the night to a distant village--to offer the wire and goats as payment for a wife. It is their custom that men not choose wives from their own village. 

The thief had promised the Chief of his wife’s village that he’d return with two more goats within the month, which would make full payment for his new wife.

I later learned the results...

The penalty for the crime imposed by the Elders was called Shunning. The thief and his new wife were sentenced to eating all meals in their hut (rather than joining the others in the common practice of communal dining) for one month and were prevented from joining in village activities during that time.

…And they lived happily ever after.

by Everil Quist, International Agri-business Consultant