What was Africa's political landscape before the European partition?

Before the European partition, Africa was a mosaic of diverse political entities, ranging from empires to small-scale societies.

Prior to the European partition, Africa's political landscape was characterised by a wide array of political structures and systems. These ranged from large, centralised empires and kingdoms, such as the Mali Empire in West Africa and the Kingdom of Kongo in Central Africa, to smaller, decentralised societies, such as the Igbo in West Africa and the Khoisan in Southern Africa. These entities had their own distinct political systems, with varying degrees of complexity and sophistication.

In the larger empires and kingdoms, power was often centralised in the hands of a monarch or a ruling elite. These rulers wielded significant authority and were often considered divine or semi-divine figures. They maintained control through a combination of military force, religious authority, and economic power. For instance, the Mali Empire, which flourished between the 13th and 16th centuries, was ruled by a powerful emperor known as the Mansa. The Mansa controlled vast territories and resources, maintained a large army, and was considered a religious leader.

In contrast, smaller societies often had more decentralised political systems. Power was typically distributed among various groups or individuals within the society, rather than being concentrated in the hands of a single ruler. These societies were often organised along kinship lines, with decisions made through consensus or collective deliberation. For example, the Igbo people of West Africa had a political system based on a council of elders, who made decisions on behalf of the community.

Trade also played a significant role in Africa's pre-colonial political landscape. Trade routes crisscrossed the continent, connecting different regions and facilitating the exchange of goods, ideas, and people. These trade networks often gave rise to powerful city-states and trading kingdoms, such as the Swahili city-states along the East African coast and the Kingdom of Zimbabwe in Southern Africa.

In summary, before the European partition, Africa's political landscape was a complex tapestry of diverse political entities, each with its own unique political system and structure. This diversity was a reflection of Africa's vast size, cultural richness, and historical complexity.