Grass-roots Justice in Tanzania

摘要

In a remote village of Tanzania one day in 1998, members of an ethnic group called the Sukuma gathered for a hearing on a social transgression. The local leader of this culture's justice organization—called the Sungusun-gu—had offered meat to a nonmember at an organizational feast. According to the group's rules, only Sungusungu members are allowed to eat meat at such events. Although this infraction might seem minor, it triggered a heated debate. Hundreds of Sungusungu members screamed that their leader was a thief. As punishment, the organization removed the leader from his position and fined him.