SU2 Flashcards
External Factors that influenced history before Colonialisation
- Nomadic
- Wars
- Migration
- Climate
- Food and pastures
- Population growth
Supreme Being?
Was regarded as the Creator
Regarded as the provider of earthly things
Highest authority, keeper of order, ethics, and morality.
Supreme being acted as a judge in the spirit of justice
Supreme being operated by means of Ancestors.
Ancestors?
Are those who have died and those who are unborn
Not obeying Ancestors?
- Misfortune in the community
Angering Ancestors had consequences.
Legal Rules?
to prevent angering Ancestors and misfortune more legal rules were made including punishment for certain conduct.
Purpose of punishment?
- Restorative
- Retributive
Traditional leaders?
Traditional leaders were the bears of authority under the guidance of the Supreme being.
Law and religion?
Law and religion are connected.
Traditional Governance Structure
King and his Council
Chief and his Council
Headmens and Village Council
Family heads and families
Traditional Communities
Traditional communities had a number of families or family collectives, led by a family head.
Each community formed part of a clan led by Clan Heads.
Councils?
Various family heads formed part of a village council.
Extended families were connected by a common ancestor.
Various clan?
Various clans put together formed part of a village with its own Clan council, led by clan heads and chaired by a headman.
These were headmen’s courts.
Headmen’s courts?
Handled serious inter-clan disputes.
Decision made by the Headmen’s Court could be appealed by the Chiefdom Forum.