Njangi Bookkeeping: How to Keep Records

Most njangi disputes are really record disputes: "I paid," "No you didn't." Clean bookkeeping ends them.

What to record every cycle

• Date and amount of each member's contribution.
• Who received the payout and when.
• Any penalties charged and paid.
• The running balance and the next member's turn.

Simple methods

• Notebook — cheap, but easily lost or disputed.
• Spreadsheet — better, but only one person usually holds it.
• Digital njangi — records update automatically and everyone sees the same numbers.

Golden rules

1. Record each payment immediately, not from memory.
2. Make records visible to all members.
3. Never let one person be the only source of truth.

Transparent, shared records are the cheapest insurance a njangi can buy.