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Africa/African village that has "evolved" method of behavior correction

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Expert: Karen Lotter - 9/15/2008


Question
I read of a village in Africa where the residents punish misbehaviors in a really unusual way:  they place the person who has done something wrong in the center of the village, and all day long people go by and say POSITIVE things about the person and how important they are to them.  By the end of the day the person feels ashamed and they have an inner resolve to not do whatever it is they did.  Could you provide more specific information?  It would be great to know if this story was more than anecdotal ... could you find out the name of the village and who the people are, and how this practice actually plays out on a day to day basis?

Answer
Hi Brett
I have never heard of this, but that does not mean that it doesn't exist.

It just sounds a bit "Lost Tribe"-ish to me.

However we do have a more communal/consensus way of doing things in many parts of Africa like the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in South Africa, set up at the end of Apartheid.

http://www.doj.gov.za/trc/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth_and_Reconciliation_Commission_(South_Africa)

Hope you find this interesting

Karen

Africa

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Karen Lotter

Expertise

I'm a writer and journalist. I'm also an info-junkie, so there is very little I can't find out. I grew up in a bookshop and newspaper-owning family, so its in my genes.

Experience

I've been a journalist/editor for over 30 years. I'm also a pretty good photographer. Check out my pics at http://www.flickr.com/photos/25908474@N00/.Besides all the other writing I do, I have been writing political speeches for the past 13 years and I believe passionately in the African Renaissance.

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I don't join organizations.

Publications
I'm writing African travel stories (and other stories) for www.Suite 101.com at the moment. There are also some of my own stories on my websites www.protocolinpractice.co.za and www.ethekwiniweb.co.za. So, Google my name, you'll find others , I'm sure.

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Enough

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There have been, but they don't define who I am or what I'm capable of.

Past/Present Clients
I've been writing speeches for the Mayor and other local government politicians in Durban for the past 13 years - I also write website content. But mostly- I'm reliable.

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