Plural of galana; a form of compensation paid by a family in some African legal systems for injuries or deaths.
From Bantu languages of East Africa, particularly Swahili 'galana.' The word refers to customary law practices in African societies where payment could resolve disputes outside of violent revenge.
In traditional East African justice systems, the galana system actually reduced violence by giving families a legal alternative to endless blood feuds—if someone paid enough galana, the injured family could accept compensation instead of seeking revenge.
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