Africa is characterized by many writers as a high development of law and legal procedures. the Kpelle are Mande-speaking, patrilineal group of 175,000 rice cultivators in Central Liberia and regions of Guinea. there is no single king or paramount chief but series of chiefs of same authority which political organizations are centralized through. paramount chief is highest tribal authority in Liberia. in the research done they have transcripts made of cases. in a Kpelle courtroom the hearings are coercive and arbitrary in tone. court is effective in settling assault, possession of illegal charms or theft cases. here we have possession of drugs too not just illegal charms which im not sure what that is exactly. most brought up cases is disputed rights of women, the moot is more effective in handling these cases. moot most often held on Sunday, day of rest for christians and non-christians at the home of the complaint or person that calls the moot.kinsman is mediator. participation of spectators is demanded and blessings are chanted by an elder.
everyone attending the moot wears their best clothes, unless its not Sunday then they just wear everyday clothes. anyone can speak out or against the complaintant but anyone who speaks when the mediator is talking they are fined by having to bring some rum for the group to drink.person held at fault will have to apologize to the other. losing party also fined by bring rum or beer to the mediator and anyone else who heard the case.courtroom is dependent on the judge but a moot is on the parties involved. in moot solution is more consensual. mediator can give no jail time or a heavy fine. Kpelle courts grant divorce. Kpelle moot is domestic and family relations courts. both formal and informal dispute settlements serve significance in Kpelle society
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