African Wisdom

The Palaver Tree

Under the palaver tree, all may speak and be heard. This democratic tradition ensures that decisions include all affected voices.

Under the palaver tree, all may speak and be heard. This democratic tradition ensures that decisions include all affected voices.

Come to the palaver tree. Speak your mind. All voices matter when the community decides.

West African Governance

Written about in

• What African wisdom says about what to say and what to leave unsaid

  This is the tradition's institutional answer to who speaks: everyone affected, in one place, before the decision is taken. So the question stops being whether a thing may be raised and becomes where — under the tree, and not after the matter is settled.