Traditional Institutions and Democratic Governance for African Renaissance

Abstract

Despite the general outcry for African Renaissance anchored on the spirit of Pan Africanism and the spirit of securing African solutions to African problems, the continues to suffer from multifaceted challenges including a democratic governance deficit. This paper seeks to explore the role of traditional institutions in enhancing democratic governance for African Renaissance. A qualitative research design was adopted, while data was collected mainly from secondary sources including published and unpublished works from the internet. Data was analyzed thematically based on inductive reasoning within the theoretical framework of Max Weber’s theory of power and the theory of participatory democracy. Findings revealed that many Africans still strongly adhere to traditional leadership which they consider to be very legitimate, and indispensable in contemporary democratic governance processes. Their claims are backed by several positive practices associated with traditional authorities including that they act as promoters of transparent and accountable leadership, political mobilizers, peacemakers, symbols of unity, as well as architects of participatory governance and social justice. Hence, this paper argues that African traditional institutions should be revived and effectively integrated under an ‘African House of Chiefs Secretariat’ to enhance democratic governance for African Renaissance.