West African Societies since the Pre-Colonial Era: Studies in the Socio-Political Structures of the Agulu

Abstract

This paper surveys a unique system of socio-political organisation among the Igbo of south eastern Nigeria, with a particular reference to the Agulu people. Described by various scholars as stateless, non-centralised, village democracy, etc., its conceptualisation sometimes presents fresh problems of interpretation requiring a closer look and deeper understanding of the cultural dynamics that sustains the socio-political system. The paper adopts interdisciplinary approach involving the use of both historical facts and ethnographic evidence in the reconstruction of the nature and significance of the traditional institutions in Agulu. It submits that the Agulu system is uniquely home grown around which the people organised to undertake a number of activities since the pre-colonial period. It typifies a resilient African culture system deserving further systematic studies.

Keywords: Society, Politics, Organisation, Agulu, Igbo.