DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL AND POLITICAL SYSTEM_TOPIC 4_HISTORY FORM 1

DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL AND 

POLITICAL SYSTEM

Before the coming of colonialist Africans, they had their own social and political system of administration, African administration system was interrupted after the interaction with colonialist in 19th century. Therefore, in this topic we explain Development of social and political system of Africa. 

THE CLAN ORGANIZATION

Clan was the organization, which involved combination of several related families with a common ancestor. Clan organization combined with both the matrilineal and matrilineal societies. In the patrineal societies clan heritage was based on the father, in the matrilineal clan heritage was based on the mother examples of this society were Mweras, Kambas and Kikuyus whom others are patrineals. 

The main economic activity in the clan organization was agriculture. Clan is controlled or ruled by the clan’s head. More examples of matrilineal societies; The Ngindo, Zaramo, Makua and Matumbi.

DUTIES OR FUNCTIONS OF THE CLAN HEAD

1. To distribute land to the communities or clan members.

2. To preserve traditions and customs of the clan.

3. To preserve land belonging to the clan.

4. To settle disputes and quarrels.

5. To find wives for boys and husbands for girls.

Types of clan organizations in agricultural societies.

 There are two types of clan organizations in agricultural societies; Matrilineal and Matrilineal

Matrilineal clan organization

This is a society where by the husband moved to the wife’s family and children of the new family belonged to the mother’s (wife’s clan). As a result, clan heritage was based on the mother’s clan. Uncles have to make all the important decisions concerning the children and the nephews of their sisters. Matrilineal age in Africa was practiced among the Makonde, Makua, Mwera, the Yao of Tanzania, and the Kamba of Kenya.

Matrilineal clan organization societies

This is the system of organization in which the clan heritage was based on the father’s line and all children bared the name of the father. The husband had to pay substantial bride price in different forms such as cattle, goats, etc in order to get the wife, the bride price could be stored as wealth, in this system all the children of the new family belonged to the father’s clan.

By the 18^th and 19^th century clan system changed to chief train, ship after several came to be controlled under one leader.

AGE SET ORGANIZATION

This kind of socio-political organization based on age and sex. In order for one to fit in the society one was required to fulfill certain obligations. Often the main productive activity was based on the harsh environments. Such as arid grass land and semi arid, in these areas poor soil could not support agriculture economy but vegetation could be used for animal husbandry.

Age set organization was the determinant form of organization in pastoral societies. The best examples of these societies were the Maasai, Nyakyusa of East Africa, Hausa in West Africa and the Khoi Khoi of South Africa.

The division of responsibilities and duties was based on age and sex and was usually done during intuition ceremonies. Youth were taught special responsibilities. Age set covered a specific group of years for example;

a)   Children group aged 0-8years were regarded as non-producers group. They were not directly involved in production.

b)   Youth group 8-18 years their main responsibility was to graze animals, trading young animals and milking cattle they were assisted by women.

c)   Moran group (people between youth and adults aged between 35yers) and above these were soldiers of the society.

The main responsibilities of the Moran were as follows; 

i. To protect the whole society as trained soldiers.

ii. To protect livestock against dangerous animals and raiders

iii. To increase the number of animals through raiding their neighbors

iv. To travel with their herds in search for water and pastures.

d)   Laibons this is the group of elders aged 40years and above it consisted of elders who were divided in groups namely; junior elders and senior elders.

Responsibilities of elders:

-         To control livestock and all the properties on behalf of their communities.

-         To enable norms and ethics to govern the society.

-   They were top overseers of all the spiritual and political matters of the community.

-         They were responsible for counseling other members of the society.

-         To settle disputes among the society members.

-          They were regarded as retired producers of the society but their ideas and skills were highly appreciated.