Kunta attends the Council of Elders (held once every moon) as often as he can. Omoro once told Kunta that this is the only way to become wise to village business. In the inner circle sit the oldest elders. Behind them sit the junior elders, such as Kunta’s father. Behind them sit those of Kunta’s age and a bit older. Finally, behind them, the women are allowed to sit. The women attend only when some “juicy gossip” is assured.

Most of the matters decided by the Council of Elders are quite routine: large farm plots for a growing family; new (small) farm plots for newly made men, such as Kunta; small land disputes; payment for broken and borrowed items; accusations of evil magic; slaves accusing masters of cruelty; masters accusing slaves of laziness; and so on.

Some of the more interesting council sessions are about people intending to marry. If the two people are too close in kinship, the council refuses them. Most people asking the council have already been vetted by the parents, so acceptance is usually assured. However, the village is given a full moon to speak privately with the elders in order to share information secretly (either good or bad) on the couple’s behalf. If the woman is unruly or if the man beats his goats, the marriage is refused. These negative traits are not allowed to be passed on.

Adultery is another serious offense attended to by the Council of Elders. Any man who takes advantage of another man’s wife is made to either pay back her worth or work for that worth as long as the council deems necessary. Repeat offenders are often flogged publicly. The worst offense that a woman can bring against her husband is “to claim that her husband was not a man, meaning that he was inadequate with her in bed.” When this accusation is made, three elders are chosen: one from the woman’s family, one from the man’s family, and one of the senior elders. They all watch the two in bed and decide who is correct. If the woman is correct, she is granted her divorce and dowry. If the man is correct, the man receives the dowry, is allowed divorce, and may beat the wife as well.

Two more decisions by the Council of Elders piques Kunta’s interest as well. First, a married couple who divorced requests to be married again. This is denied by the council because they were originally adamant about separating. Second, two young widows, knowing they are probably destined to become old maids, ask for permission to cook for and sleep with two men of Kunta’s age. This is called a “teriya friendship.” The request is granted so that the men can “get valuable experience for when you marry later.”

Perhaps the saddest event that Kunta witnesses is a delay as the Council of Elders decides what to do with Jankeh Jallon, a fifteen-year-old girl who was kidnapped by a white man, raped, and found with child. Poor Jankeh is now unfit to marry and has a strange-looking child from the toubob. Still, the council delays the vote and leaves Kunta concerned about the young mother with her strange child. Would the toubob have eaten her if she had not escaped?