The Unsettling Truth About Blood Debt in Africa

The lelay an, african people managed to turn the principle of blood debts into the organizing principle of their entire society. Cloth smooth all social relations, husband to wife, son to mother, son to father. They resolve occasions of tension as peace offerings. There are also formal gifts of raphaa, which are neglected only at risk of rupture of the scial ties involved. A man should give 20 cloths to his wife on each delivery of a child. It was customary to reward her for her fidelity.