Are monarchies still relevant in Africa?
October 25, 2022 2105 views 106 comments 1 minute reading timeDo we still need monarchies in Africa? There are three African countries with constitutional monarchies – Morocco, Swaziland and Lesotho – and hundreds of other traditional monarchs spread out across the continent, though these wield little to no formal political power.
In the pre-colonial era, traditional leaders had a central role in the lives of indigenous people. Not only did they have administrative powers, but they were also custodians of culture and keepers of lore, fulfilling spiritual and ceremonial obligations to their community. Colonialism destabilized, altered and sometimes destroyed many of these kingdoms, relegating many chiefs and kings to ceremonial roles.
Some argue that these traditional governance structures should be preserved as they are central to indigenous people’s relationship to citizenship and cultural identity. Others believe that monarchies do not belong in progressive societies as they are archaic, non-democratic and lacking in downward accountability.
To debate the topic, we spoke to leading African scholars about the history of monarchies in Africa and their place in contemporary society.
Do monarchies have a role to play in the 21st Century? Should they be symbolic figureheads or wield influence and power? Share your thoughts below: