Did Taylor make rebels eat enemies?
BBC NEWS | Africa | Taylor ‘made rebels eat enemies’
The biggest problem with a story of this kind is that it completely ignores the cultural background of the people involved. On the one hand, military cannibalism is a tradition of long standing in many African cultures, as it is horrifying to and dehumanizing of the enemy. On the other hand, there is a tendency in at least some sub-Saharan cultures to believe the absolute worst about an enemy, and to give great credence to the word of an ally. At the same time, honesty is not a virtue in these societies, as honesty has a way of hindering relationships.
Thus, Mr. Marzah could be saying what he’s saying for two reasons:
- He might be saying it because it’s the truth, and Charles Taylor did, in fact, trade in weapons for diamonds and command the eating of enemies.
- He might be saying it because he thinks the International Tribunal wants to hear it, or he wants to harm Charles Taylor, or because he committed cannibalism and wants to blame Taylor, or some other reason for which he would lie.
Unfortunately, the Western world is seldom prepared to understand non-Western values, and particularly so among the élites who presume to judge others for crimes against humanity.
I am curious as to whether the charges are true, but I wouldn’t take Mr. Marzah’s word for any of it.
