Democracy is not alien to African culture

[Gerald .M Magembe]

For those who think democracy is alien to Africa, it is important to clarify the term democracy.

Democracy is derived from two Greek words "demos" meaning people and "kratos" meaning rule. Translating directly, democracy means a form of government in which the people rule.

Thus, democracy is largely about the ability of the people to determine who rules them, by which law they are ruled and also make the ruler conform to the will of the people.

In short, a democracy is a representative and responsive government. By this definition, many African traditional governance systems are democratic.

The Yoruba traditional governance system and the traditional governance of Akan Ghana are exemplary democracies because even though these kingdoms are monarchical, they are representative, participatory, and have adequate checks and balances.

For the sake of distinguishing the democracy of these traditional institutions from Western-style democracy, it shall be called a cultural democracy.

Unfortunately, Western democracy has been universalized due to Europe’s international imperialism, which subjugated other forms of knowing, especially African indigenous knowledge.

Even though multiparty elections are important features of Western democracy, yet, the absence of such an arrangement in other responsive and representative governments of other cultures does not make them less democratic.

Arguably, the institutional arrangements that will achieve representativeness and responsiveness may vary across societies.

That Africa’s cultural democracy is different from the West’s should not make it invalid. Different must not mean inferior. Even now, African indigenous institutions are preferred by African rural people because these institutions have been found to be comparatively more transparent and responsive.

African cultural democracy has got features that make it suit African people.

 

[Yoda]

Uongo mtupu. Hakuna African democracy na western democracy.

 

[ZALEMDA]

Thus, democracy is largely about the ability of the people to determine who rules them, by which law they are ruled and also make the ruler conform to the will of the people.

Democracy inazo shida sana .to adopt it in every country or institution may be difficult. Inategemea na watu wakoje, wanataka nini,historia ya nchi husika,aina ya dini ndani ya nchi hiyo,Mungu anataka nini kwa watu wake,uchumi wa nchi,marafiki wa nchi husika na mataifa ya magharibi yana interest gani kwa nchi hiyo

We need to define our own democracy

Mfano:watu wa Sodoma na gomora wao walichagua democracy ya kuzini hadharani, kufirana wanaume kwa wanaume hadharani .to them it was fine to do such acts.lakini Mungu hakupenda democracy hiyo.

In america and other western countries wamechagua kuwa na democracy ya kuwatambua mashoga na lesbians .kama vile Tundu Lissu alivyokuwa anataka iwe hapa kwetu Tanzania lakini akakwaa kisiki cha Mungu kumkatalia kupitia Tanzania society, Dini etc.kwa hiyo kwa sababu Mungu anakuwa amemkataa kiongozi fulani, Mungu huyo anaweza kuruhusu wizi wa kura ,au kuwa na kiongozi dictator ( kila utawara hutoka kwa Mungu kwa wakati uliyoamriwa kulingana na Mungu anataka nini kwa wakati huo) .