Before the arrival of European colonisers, Africa had well-developed systems of governance led by traditional authorities. For example, chiefs of the Yoruba combined spiritual and political power, while in Buganda, authority was shared between two people – the religious and the secular rulers.
Colonisation shattered these structures. The French and Portuguese eliminated local authorities altogether, while the British employed a policy of indirect rule, turning chiefs into mere puppets. When independence came, many young African nations inherited Western systems of government that were alien to them. This resulted in decades of coups and internal conflict.
Professor Lumumba believes Africa should never have abandoned its traditional forms of leadership. Instead, he argues, the continent must seek a model where modern state institutions coexist with the authority of chiefs and kings. He says such a balance could offer Africa a path towards stability and renewal.
