ECON-UA 1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Emese, Ogboni, Ashanti Empire
6 Jul 2020
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Document Summary
Famethe political ideology of indigenous african political systems and institutions from antiquity to the 19th century. African political systems and institutions traditionally based on kinship and language and sanctioned by a founding myth. Each ethnic group had its own system of government. Religion defined moral duties and controlled conduct. Rules and procedures of government established by custom and tradition rather than written constitution. Systems based on the rule of law. Laws subject to public debate and scrutiny. They were based on an elaborate system of checks and balances. Political succession was carefully institutionalized to minimize conflict and eliminate unfit leaders. Based political unit was the village assembly. Committee was gathered over issues - everyone was able to speak. African concept of power fused by the secular and the sacred. Impossible to distinguish between religious and non-religious areas of life. Religion isn"t really a word for them, it is just part of normal life.
