Theory question 110
Pre-colonial Political Systems(a) List three features of the Igbo Traditional Political System.
(b) Identify four democratic tenets of the Igbo Traditional Political System.
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(a) Any three: acephalous/segmentary (no central king in most areas); power shared among village assembly, council of elders (Ndichie/Ofo holders), age grades, title societies (Ozo), umuada and oracles/dibia; village was the main political unit; decisions by consensus; gerontocracy (respect for elders).
(b) Any four: decision making through the general village assembly where every adult male could speak (direct democracy); freedom of speech; consensus/majority decisions; power was not concentrated in one person (checks and balances); leadership by merit and achievement (title societies); accountability of leaders to the people; participation of women's groups and age grades.
Features in (a); show how the system was democratic in (b).