Africa should breed its own type of democracy

Africa’s brand of democracy has been portrayed as a minimalist, most limited and most elementary kind of governance system.

In reality, democracy is an intrinsic part of African culture. The Europeans who originally came to Africa encountered egalitarian/democratic kingdoms and communities, which they had to demolish first before their colonisation agenda could take root.

However, euro-centrism distorted Africa’s democratic political history.  There has been a consistent portrayal of Africa’s culture as totally autocratic, archaic and anti-development. The imposition of Western ethos, including Western-style democracy, on Africa, has produced distortions because the culture, history, and values of the indigenous are pivotal to any development agenda and governance framework.

Many African traditional governance systems were democratic. African kingdoms like the Mossi, Songhay, Mali, and Kongo had sophisticated democratic features with representative structures. These kingdoms, for instance, had clauses in their constitutions (albeit unwritten) that limited the power of the kings or emperors and gave governors and ministers the right to impeach their rulers.

In some of the east and southern African traditional institutions, the Yoruba traditional governance system and that of the Akan in Ghana remain exemplary because even though they are monarchical, they blend elements of representation, participation and institute adequate checks and balances.

On the other hand, the majority rule of Western democracy is a ‘winner-take-all’ system, which could be inadvertently repressive in communities with minority groups. However, in pre-colonial Africa, the Igbo, Yoruba, and Ashanti in Ghana, decision-making was largely consensual, which ensured that every interest was represented, thereby reducing disputes.

Western-style democracies were patriarchal for a very long time. In fact, British women were, for instance, not allowed to vote until 1928, at which time many African women, especially in the eastern-southern and west Africa, were participating in public decision-making unhindered.

Similarly, the constitutions that were enacted to nurture Western-style democracy in Africa were largely modifications of colonial laws. They were, on occasions, at odds with the precepts of the local culture.  

The lack of cultural elements is a strong reason the Western-style democracy has led to occasional spins in Africa at the expense of uninterrupted progress. Instead of replicating Western liberal democracies and the attendant neoliberal reforms, I am of the view that Africa has a lot to learn from its own culture and values. The danger of a borrowed democracy or any ideology is that it may, in addition to its fascinating qualities, contain other non-traditional elements, which are misaligned with our in-bred aspirations. 

As we reflect on the International Day of Democracy, let’s challenge ourselves to orchestrate our home-grown brand of democracy, one that works. African policymakers ought to continuously study various indigenous African societies for valuable democratic principles and practices to be adapted to reflect contemporary African situations.

Mr Kaheru is a socio-political commentator

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