THE POLITICAL IDEOLOGY OF INDIGENOUS AFRICAN POLITICAL SYSTEMS AND INSTITUTIONS FROM ANTIQUITY TO THE NINETEENTH CENTURY
Abstract
This study examined the political ideology embedded in indigenous African political systems and institutions from antiquity to the nineteenth century. Through qualitative historical analysis, the research highlighted the complexity, adaptability, and legitimacy of African governance systems before colonial imposition. The study was guided by African Communitarianism and Postcolonial theory to explore how African societies developed unique political ideologies based on kinship, religion, and participatory governance. Findings indicated that these systems were not primitive but were grounded in values of consensus, justice, and accountability. Indigenous political structures ranged from centralized empires like Songhai and Kongo to decentralized systems such as the Igbo, emphasizing the role of community elders and age-grades. Religious and kinship ties played a significant role in the legitimacy of rulers, with many leaders viewed as divinely sanctioned. Furthermore, the systems exhibited remarkable adaptability, incorporating external influences such as Islam while maintaining core cultural values. However, colonialism disrupted these systems, delegitimizing traditional authority and imposing foreign governance structures. The research concluded that indigenous African political thought offered valuable insights for contemporary governance and state-building in Africa, urging a re-evaluation of African political history and the inclusion of indigenous principles in modern political discourse.
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