In ancient times, most African societies were monarchies. Some societies did better than others, but each organized according to the strength of the local economy. Kingdoms rose and fell based on their ability to create wealth for their people and their military might. This continued for centuries till the Europeans came to Africa.
In West Africa, there was the Ghana Empire, the Mali Empire, and the Songhai Empire. There was also the kingdom of Nri, the Oyo Empire, the Ashanti Empire, and so on.
In North Africa, there was the Kingdom of Kerma, Ancient Egypt, Kingdom of Kush, Ancient Carthage, and the Kingdom of Numidia. There were also Islamic Kingdoms such as the Ottoman Algeria, the Alaouite dynasty, the Husaini dynasty, and the Mamluk dynasty.
In Central Africa, there was the Kongo Kingdom, Luba Empire, and Lunda Empire. Also in Southern Africa, the Zulu Kingdom, the Maravi Empire, and the Rozvi Empire. Again in East Africa, there was the Empire of Kitara, Buganda Kingdom, and the Wanga Kingdom.
Essentially, there were no lands that had no political and economic system. Kings tried their best to improve the lives of their people. This all changed when the Europeans came to colonize Africa.
The Europeans came to Africa, they discovered a resource-rich continent. They initially came as traders and established forts and ports to facilitate their trade. Eventually, they decided to acquire it for themselves. They sent their armies here to subdue the continent. Though they were able to subdue the natives in most instances, they were not always successful. For example, in 1823 the Ashanti Empire defeated the British, beheading the commander in the process. However, this did not deter them, and their persistence paid off. Eventually, they captured all the territories.
Set up to fail
A wave of independence swept over the continent in the 1950s and 1960s. Resultantly, most African countries became independent. However, the Europeans left on their terms leaving in place structures that did not favor the indigenous population.
They set up a democratic political system in the African countries. Despite never ruling by democracy throughout colonization. Also, the economies were modeled around resource extraction. So, the newly formed governments could not fund the aspirations of the newly formed nations.
The military overthrew successive governments in a series of coup d’états. Most nations struggled to find any form of stability necessary for economic development. Eventually, most countries returned to civilian democratic rule.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Sides of Democracy
Democracy has allowed more people to participate in the governance of the nation. Both the educated and the uneducated citizens can elect representatives or stand for election. This inclusive nature makes most Africans favor democracy over military rule or dictatorships.
On the other hand, democracy has not improved the quality of leadership in most nations. Corruption is endemic in African politics. As government officials divert the resources of the nation to their coffers. This has widened the gap between the rich and the poor over time.
Most people are disillusioned and do not participate in the electoral process. In Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reported that voter turnout across Nigeria was around 30 to 35 percent of registered voters in the last two elections.
The high unemployment rate and floundering economies do not give much hope for the future. Democracies around the continent have failed to deliver wealth to their citizens.
Most political parties are organized under ethnic lines. So, in an election people go to vote for their kin and not for whoever is capable.
Over the past two years, there have been successful coup d’états in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinee. Citizens supported the coups due to the ineffectiveness of previous governments. This suggests that the progress made by democratic governments is still not in line with the aspirations of the people.
The Power is Yours
Politicians are the biggest beneficiaries of the present political system. They use their offices to amass wealth and leave the citizens to fend for themselves and their cronies. If we expect change to come from the same political class, then it will never happen.
In many places, the youth do not engage in politics. However, they form the majority of the population. If the teaming youth participate in the process, they can take their future into their own hands.
The approach matters. Some youth have tried unsuccessfully getting into political office. Some people want to contest for very high political office instead of starting from the grass root. You should start from the base and work your way up the ladder. Rome was not built in a day. Neither will your country. As Africans, we have to adapt our governance system to our realities. We cannot continue on this unsustainable path. However, this can only start if we get involved. Stand up to get counted.
#emba27
