There was a man called Konye who raised a complaint more than once in a village court. The case was pertaining to a fierce and wild pig, owned by his uncle, Lonja, which was destroying his farm and all that he cultivated.

The complainer advised Lonja to put an end to this violation. But Lonja was unable to stop his pig and his violations increased.

Konye was very angry and promised to kill the pig if it came again to destroy his farm. But Lonja did not restrain his pig from going to the farm of Konye and it went again to dig the potatoes and consume the tasty okra which were growing there.

One day, the man found the pig digging the okra and eating it and breaking the maize canes in his farm. He became very angry; he took his spear and stabbed the pig. And when the pig died, he carried it and threw it in front of the members of the court, saying to them, “Now I have solved the problem alone and killed the pig which caused huge damage to my plantation.”

Now I have solved the problem alone and killed the pig which caused huge damage to my plantation.

 

Lonja demanded compensation for his stabbed pig. Lonja’s nephew responded, “I do not reject it; but you must compensate for the plentiful loss caused by your pig to my crops.” The negotiation between the two in the court went on for a long time and the dead pig remained in the centre of court.

The dead pig began to rot and to smell very bad. Members of the court agreed that he was to be cooked and offered to those in court attendance. The court halted the case in session to eat. After they had eaten the delicious pork, they returned to the case deliberation.

The chief of the court opened the case after he had eaten and was satisfied with pork, saying, “Killing of a pig is not a matter that people should remain quiet about in any case and for any reason. Because a farmer farms so that he may buy pigs, and he suffers in with farming to produce a lot so that he may buy a large number of pigs that he can marry with. We have never heard that one day one of us has married with sorghum or potatoes.”

 

We have never heard that… one of us has married with sorghum or potatoes.

 

The members of the court agreed with their chief. One of the members said, “Konye should pay back the pig to Lonja.” All agreed on the verdict.

The president said, “You, Konye, must pay the fine. Do you have any objection?”

Konye said, “Yes, I agree to pay Lonja the price of the pig. But who is going to pay? It is you the court members who ate the pork, so you are the ones to pay. But Lonja must also pay me for the damage caused by his pig to my farm.”

Everyone laughed for his eloquence, sense, and wisdom and agreed with his mind.

Reflections:

1) Was this a just resolution?
2) What does your community value as highly as this community values pigs?

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