Traditional Leadership, Indigenous Knowledge, and Local Governance: Implications for Good Governance and Sustainable Development Agenda

Abstract

The traditional leadership institution had far-reaching and overall commitment to protect the local people within and outside their jurisdiction. It controls the allocation of community land held in their custody and trust; preserves law and order; collects taxes; provides social services; promotes education; adjudicates and makes pronouncement on conflicts through utilization of native intelligence defined by local/indigenous knowledge (IK). This guarantees effective local administration and control are facilitated by faithful adherence to the dictates of traditions, socio-cultural values, and norms entrenched in traditional institutions. Unfortunately, these traditional institution and leadership were neglected by colonialism. This chapter, using qualitative historical data and thematic analysis coupled with twin theories of dependency and cultural revivalism, tries to explore, and determine whether the institution of traditional leadership has any relevance in the modern governmental system and sustainable development in Africa. It found and concluded that fundamental to good governance and sustainable development agenda is the acknowledgement of the traditional institution, IK, and leadership as the custodian of society’s values and norms, the neglect of which good governance and sustainable development will be a dream. The work is significant in its contribution to research on traditional leadership, IK, and their impacts on development.