Life is lived in community and in relationships. In contrast, many Westerners think we choose our relationships. In other words, for Africans the only choice one has is how one lives out these relationships. Africans are very realistic in that they know there will always be serious differences, conflict, sinful and abusive behavior that can break relationships and cause division, anger, fear and uncertainty. Thus historically, and even today, the elders have spent a lot of time restoring broken relationships.
Reconciliation aims at overcoming separateness or healing brokenness.
Central to the African concept of reconciliation between different groups, therefore, is the sharing of essential means of life, that is, all that contributes toward the sustaining of life. Several of the ethnic groups I worked with in Tanzania had their unique way of handling murder. Say that two men were fighting over cattle or whatever, and Chacha killed Mwita. The family of Mwita would not demand the death of Chacha. Chacha would have to acknowledge his guilt and some compensation would be given.