Politics and society in pre-colonial Africa: Implications for governance in contemporary times

Abstract

The African continent is acknowledged as a leader in the history of human development and the origins of contemporary institutions. The evidence of human origins from southern and eastern Africa has highlighted the importance of Africa to the development of humanity. In areas such as cognitive development, the origins of social behavior (including the institution of the family, rituals and advances in tool technologies ranging from stone to metals), Africa is richly endowed with material evidence. This chapter focuses on the nature of pre-colonial political institutions and how they informed the development of African societies and civilizations. The chapter draws examples from the tapestry of African societies across time and space and highlights how these developments influenced local, regional and global systems including trade, urbanism and technology.