Is the western brand of democracy suitable for African countries

It unavoidable that different people must meet and interact at one point or the other. It also inevitable that due to this interaction, there will be a sharing and exchange of ideas and practices (culture) between and among groups. The circumstances that led to the first contact is a major determinant of level at which one party view the other and consequently the extent to which the lifestyle and ideal of one influence or dominate the other in subsequent relationship. Technological advantage made it possible for the Europeans be the first to cross the atlantic to African shores. This was quickly followed by slavery and then colonialism. It is clear from the history of our first interaction with the European explorers that African communities are at disadvantage in term of technological knowhow and because we need to learn from them the follow up has been that of teacher/student relationship. Apology to the blessed memory of Fela Kuti. (Teacher don't teach me nonsense). There is no doubt that this technological influence on African communities has great improvement on how we produce our food, build our shelter and in some part of Africa, they learn to cover themselves with textile instead of leaves. However there are limitating factors to the extent to which a group emulate the other or in a particular aspect of life. One of them is the existence of a similar and functioning ideals. Another and most importantly is the compatibility of a foreign value with the culture, tradition and sentiments of the host communities.Broadly speaking, there are three major aspect of peoples' life, vis- economic, social and political. But for the purpose of this discussion I will based my point on the political aspect, hence governance and democracy. Unlike the better tools for farming, the more reliable building materials, and more decent clothing, all of which are almost new to us and have a positive and direct impact on Africans living standard. African communities were not in a state of anarchy before the coming of the Europeans, and governance is not new to African.As a political historian none of the present/popular (democracy) and the past but now not so popular (socialism) borrowed political ideas were at one time or other been practiced in various pre-colonial African communities. For example, a carefull study of the political system of Old Oyo Empire will show that the system of government have all the basic element of modern democracy. The relationship between the Queen of England and the British parliament is not in any way different from the relationship between the Alafin of Oyo and his chiefs. While the Alaafin of Oyo (the chief executive) has the power to agree or disagree(veto-power) with the Oyo high chiefs (the legislative council), the chiefs also have the collective power to remove a king that tend to abuse his power. Although there was nothing like a direct election in the Old Oyo Empire, but it is clear that whoever is chosen by the kingmakers to take the throne must enjoy the majority support of the chiefs who directly or indirectly retain there position as titled chiefs by there popularity in their local communities. This is indirect representation and that is also the sense behind electoral college as a mean of choosing an American president. Now the question is if democracy and civil governance is not new in Africa, then why is it that any democratic process in African countries is still being riddled with sorrow, tears and blood? In my opinion, the major problem with the African democracy is that it failed to recognize and make provision for our traditional values and sentiments. An example of such sentiment is Age. Consciously or unconsciously, an average African still regard age as a vital criteria for wisdom and leadership. This is why it will be difficult to have somebody under the age of fifty to be 'democratically' elected as president in Africa. In an average African family, important decisions are made by the head of the family who most probably is regarded as the head by virtue of age and not by election. Yet he made binding decision over the rest of the extended family. I can see Barrack Obama's daughter engaging in "fair debate" with his father. However, such scenario between Y'aradua (the president of Nigeria) or Mugabe (the president of Zimbabwe) will have to be a one way affair else the child will be considered to be rude. If charity truely begins from home, how then do you expect such president to respect the opinion and views of a 'young' but intelligent senator.In African traditional political system, leadership is considered to a life affair expect when the ruler abuses power, and then the ruler would not be voted out but removed by banishment or death! But this is not allowed in modern democracy. African leaders are by tradition not comfortable with leaving the front until they are disgraced out of office, dead or killed. However none of them will admit this because America and the West will be angry. Hence, what we have been having and which we will continue to be content with will be annulment of election, power sharing, political assassination and countless constitution ammedment. My submission is that the western version of democracy is in conflict with core African values and sentiment. I don't believe that we are likely to evolve into true and lasting democracy in Africa until this sentiment are address and given place in our version of democracy, The British did not do away with their traditional values and sentiment in the name of democracy, instead they find a means of making them work together. hence the phrase 'Queen in Parliament'.

Kolawole Ogunyinka