D'ÒGỌ̀ ỌKỌ AJIGBÈSẸ̀

D'ÒGỌ̀ ỌKỌ AJIGBÈSẸ̀

In the olden days, Yorùbá people had a legal system of forcing payment out of debtors. When the creditor has exhausted all effort to recover the debt, he would hire a professional called "Ògọ̀" (debt destrainor). The job of the ògọ̀ is to "d'ògọ̀ ti ajigbèsè" (sit on the debtor's neck). The Ògò are recognised or licensed by the Oba and as such they do the meanest things to recover the debt. 

The Ògò will move into the debtor's home and makes himself intolerable, he would make himself a nuisance in the house, he would adopt any measure he desire to inflict his presence and attention on the debtor, he would follow the debtor everywhere and anywhere he may go, he may decide to shout at the debtor - "ará àdúgbò e wà wọ ajigbèsè ooo" (everybody come and see a debtor!!!), "ajibèsè!!!", such are the foul words of the debt destrainor, they are men with even-temper but yet mannerless and disrespective. And being a recognised and 'licensed' professional touching or hurting him implies an attack on the creditor and thus it's a crime to hurt the debt destrainor.

It is said that the debt destrainor is permitted to eat and drink anything he desire, all at the expense of the debtor, he may slaughter a chicken, goat etc for himself, though he is not allowed to take anything away but he must enjoy himself and make use of anything in the debtors home. He goes on this way until the debtor finds a way to get rid of him by paying the debt.

Source: History of the Yorubas by S Johnson.

#yorubablog

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