Communal Dispute Resolution

It was hot and muggy that day on the tour bus. I remember bubbling with excitement about being on my way to see this famous lake with a saline content so high that water looked pink. Only in Africa could I see something like this I remember telling myself. After stopping at the pink lake and collecting my share of natural sea salt (which I still use to this day), my family and I drove a bit further down a beaten road and into the Fulani Village.

Upon our arrival, we were greeted by children and other members of the community waiving and welcoming my clan. The Fulani in this particular village have held on to traditional customs for generations and have only been lightly touched by Western society. After meeting the Chief of the village and having the opportunity to tour the village, I learned quickly that what members of this community did not possess in material wealth, they were overwhelmingly abundant in kindness, duty and strength.

My recollections of the encounters during my short stay there are numerous and vivid. Of particular amazement was this particular tree situated near the center of the village. My curiosity was justified as I quickly understood its significance: this tree was the meeting place of the village. When there were disputes amongst the citizens, they convened under this tree along with their fellow community members and the elders of the village. It was there that residents could air their differences and reach a solution.

Absent of attorneys, law enforcement, judges or any other governing groups, the community is left to determine the best outcome. More importantly, what is decided at the tree is what the people abide by and the the settlement that stands. A practice of self determination centuries old, was an incredible revelation to me.

When I reflect on the work of Diogenes Community Solutions in the community, it is rooted in the same tenants. As challenges impact a community, we must look within that community for the answers. We must respect that residents are agents of their own destiny. Our role is to equip them with the necessary resources and support to create and establish their pathways to prosperity. As in the Fulani village, those communities most impacted by issues are the experts who must be enlisted for their technical, academic, culturally rich, lived experiences!