Trial by Oil | National Geographic

today in West Africa most towns have

today in West Africa most towns have official government ports but in many

official government ports but in many

official government ports but in many criminal matters local Chiefs still rule

criminal matters local Chiefs still rule

criminal matters local Chiefs still rule supreme and their tools of justice can

supreme and their tools of justice can

supreme and their tools of justice can be severe in the village of Kabu in

be severe in the village of Kabu in

be severe in the village of Kabu in northern Togo two men are being called

northern Togo two men are being called

northern Togo two men are being called to trial not a trial by jury but a trial

to trial not a trial by jury but a trial

to trial not a trial by jury but a trial by ordeal my friend

by ordeal my friend

by ordeal my friend Audra is a farmer and has accused

Audra is a farmer and has accused

Audra is a farmer and has accused another man of theft

another man of theft

another man of theft since the accused thief Nick abou denies

since the accused thief Nick abou denies

since the accused thief Nick abou denies the charge he and Agua will soon plunge

the charge he and Agua will soon plunge

the charge he and Agua will soon plunge their hands into a pot of boiling oil

their hands into a pot of boiling oil

their hands into a pot of boiling oil people here believe that the oil will

people here believe that the oil will

people here believe that the oil will burn the guilty but lead the honest

burn the guilty but lead the honest

burn the guilty but lead the honest unscathed it’s an extreme form of

unscathed it’s an extreme form of

unscathed it’s an extreme form of justice and both men are convinced it

justice and both men are convinced it

justice and both men are convinced it will work

will work

will work we need to oil in order to know if he is

we need to oil in order to know if he is

we need to oil in order to know if he is a thief or not if he didn’t steal then

a thief or not if he didn’t steal then

a thief or not if he didn’t steal then the fire will burn me who’s up to me we

the fire will burn me who’s up to me we

the fire will burn me who’s up to me we would have already resolved this with

would have already resolved this with

would have already resolved this with the oil when we do the oil the truth

the oil when we do the oil the truth

the oil when we do the oil the truth will come out in Togo a trial by boiling

will come out in Togo a trial by boiling

will come out in Togo a trial by boiling oil has only called war as a last resort

oil has only called war as a last resort

oil has only called war as a last resort since Agua accused Nick abou of theft

since Agua accused Nick abou of theft

since Agua accused Nick abou of theft they must both go in front of the town

they must both go in front of the town

they must both go in front of the town elders and plead their case and see if

elders and plead their case and see if

elders and plead their case and see if oil is necessary with no hard evidence

oil is necessary with no hard evidence

oil is necessary with no hard evidence and Nick abuse persistent denial of

and Nick abuse persistent denial of

and Nick abuse persistent denial of guilt the judges turn to the oil for

guilt the judges turn to the oil for

guilt the judges turn to the oil for both accuser and accused a trial by oil

both accuser and accused a trial by oil

both accuser and accused a trial by oil as a measure of their conviction

as a measure of their conviction

as a measure of their conviction let’s go the oil has reached its final

let’s go the oil has reached its final

let’s go the oil has reached its final boiling point the moment of truth is

boiling point the moment of truth is

boiling point the moment of truth is upon both men alpha is first in line he

upon both men alpha is first in line he

upon both men alpha is first in line he soaks his head and the sacred herbs put

soaks his head and the sacred herbs put

soaks his head and the sacred herbs put your hand in the pot and then take out

your hand in the pot and then take out

your hand in the pot and then take out the ring without hesitation

the ring without hesitation

the ring without hesitation oddvar reaches into the oil and

oddvar reaches into the oil and

oddvar reaches into the oil and retrieves the ring immediate relief is

retrieves the ring immediate relief is

retrieves the ring immediate relief is close at hand unlike in a western court

close at hand unlike in a western court

close at hand unlike in a western court here the burden of proof rests on the

here the burden of proof rests on the

here the burden of proof rests on the accused and the accuser Nicodemus next

accused and the accuser Nicodemus next

accused and the accuser Nicodemus next this fear is apparent all put your hand

this fear is apparent all put your hand

this fear is apparent all put your hand in you say you are not guilty

in you say you are not guilty

in you say you are not guilty put your hand in face to face with the

put your hand in face to face with the

put your hand in face to face with the oil and the jeering crowd

oil and the jeering crowd

oil and the jeering crowd nikka boo relax amazingly this extreme

nikka boo relax amazingly this extreme

nikka boo relax amazingly this extreme ordeal has identified the thief are you

ordeal has identified the thief are you

ordeal has identified the thief are you guilty or aren’t you okay I’m guilty I’m

guilty or aren’t you okay I’m guilty I’m

guilty or aren’t you okay I’m guilty I’m guilty bring us the yams that are left

guilty bring us the yams that are left

guilty bring us the yams that are left now do you accept yes for his crime

now do you accept yes for his crime

now do you accept yes for his crime nicob you must replace the stolen yams

nicob you must replace the stolen yams

nicob you must replace the stolen yams and pay a fine of twenty dollars roughly

and pay a fine of twenty dollars roughly

and pay a fine of twenty dollars roughly a month’s salary

a month’s salary

a month’s salary following tradition he will also present

following tradition he will also present

following tradition he will also present the chief with a ram and a white cop

the chief with a ram and a white cop

the chief with a ram and a white cop you have betrayed us

you have betrayed us

you have betrayed us chances are Nick abou will think twice

chances are Nick abou will think twice

chances are Nick abou will think twice before stealing his friends yams again

before stealing his friends yams again

before stealing his friends yams again [Music]