African Democratic Heritage: A Historical Case Study of the Igbo of Nigeria

Democracy consists of a set of ideas, principles, practices and procedures which enable the citizens of a given society to govern themselves. It is a system of government in which eligible citizens elect or choose their leaders who enact laws, take decisions and execute programmes and policies for the public good. Democratic and leadership culture is not alien to African societies. Africa has a long tradition of forms or systems of democracy. In traditional Igbo society, a number of democratic institutions, values and norms existed through which the people governed themselves. Traditional authorities were not absolute leaders but governed in consultation with the people. The values of consultation, negotiation, cooperation, compromise and consensus were recognised and applied in the decision making process. This paper critically discussed Igbo democratic heritage and strongly argued that in spite of the severe dislocation of Igbo traditional democratic institutions, values and practices by colonialism, some aspects of democratic traditions have survived and continued to function with vitality and new ideas to date.