Categories: Anarchism | African politics

African Anarchism

This article is about historical and contemporary Anarchist movement in Africa. For broader discussion see Anarchism and African politics.

Sam Mbah and I. E. Igariwey in "African Anarchism: The History of a Movement" make a claim that

To a greater or lesser extent, all of [...] traditional African societies manifested “anarchic elements” which, upon close examination, lend credence to the historical truism that governments have not always existed. They are but a recent phenomenon and are, therefore, not inevitable in human society. While some “anarchic” features of traditional African societies existed largely in past stages of development, some of them persist and remain pronounced to this day.

The reason why traditional African societies are characterised as "anarchies" is because of horizontal political structure and absence of classes. In addition to that leadership of elders normally did not transend into the authoritative structure, which characterises the modern state.

It must be noted, however, that a strong value was placed on traditional and "natural" values. So for example, although there were no laws against rape, homicide, adultery, and witchcraft, a person committing those acts would be percecuted together with one's kins. It was not uncommon to attribute acts of one individual to entire group.

Starting with 15th century the class system has began to form in Africa. However, many societies have until this day remained in what is called “tribes without rulers”, a form of “ordered anarchy”.

In the post-colonial Africa African socialism has began emerging. It differed significantly from classical socialism because of its emphasis on sharing of economic resources in a "traditional" way akin to Narodnichestvo movement in Russia.

Contents

1 African Anarchism in literature