Africa Revealed.

From Carolyn Logan's TRADITIONAL LEADERS IN MODERN AFRICA.

Africa in modern times, when it comes to governance has found itself at crossroads, a choice in between modern democracy through elected leaders and traditional tribal leaders.

The question of how traditional authorities “fit” into a modern political system becomes particularly acute
at the local level, where these leaders exert the most influence on the daily lives of Africans, and where
the contest with government authorities for resources and responsibilities is most intense.

In my opinion this a false dichotomy, traditional and modern CAN coexist and also complement each others needs.

Our findings are clear: positive attitudes toward chiefs are not incompatible with democracy – and vice versa. Even more startlingly, far from being in stark competition for public esteem, local traditional leaders appear to draw their sustenance and legitimacy from the same well as elected officials. We see strong evidence that African individuals tend to have an orientation toward leadership – a leadership affect – that shapes their perceptions of both elected and non-elected leaders similarly.