Writers 
Through force of arms, Africa was carved into colonies and protectorate with definite boundaries that separated various ethnic groups. Colonial subjects in some cases continued wars of resistance till the 1920’s to no avail. Thus African kingdoms, empires and peoples were deprived of their freedom and independence. Henceforth the colonial authorities decided how Africans would be ruled, how their society would be organised and their economic resources exploited.
This process affected African political life in significant ways greatly.
Each new state was given a common central government, a common national capital city, a common national name, a common official language, currency and other common institutions. These served as the bases for citizenship, nationalism, modern states of Africa, common loyalty, internal unity and common activities within the geographically demarcated areas. Yet in defiance of colonial laws and security facilities, the indigenous population crossed the borders to attend to their farmlands and relations. A people already divided between two colonies often expressed the wish to be reunited. Even after independence several African countries, were involved in border conflicts that were created by colonial arrangements.
There was no doubt that colonial systems of administration whether direct or indirect, created some atmosphere of order and peace and exposed Africans to modern methods and process of administration at various levels i.e central, provincial and local indigenous African political institutions were not totally eradicated, as they were used in the local administration. Thus the Kings and chiefs in the good books of the colonial rulers exercised certain powers delegated to them. Certain kings and chiefs who failed to cooperate were removed or demoted or sent into exile.
While African rulers in the British colonies were well respected and given more freedom of action, they suffered tremendous humiliating treatments under the Belgian and French colonial systems, hence the destruction of many African political institutions. Many chieftaincies and kingships were uprooted and those that existed up till independence had no historical foundations. Colonialism created profound disaffection between the colonial subjects and the chiefs who were regarded as unpopular collaborators and puppets. The educated elite who were denied many appointments into the colonial service were unrelenting in their attacks on indirect rule. Their fearless local press exposed several abuses of human rights that were committed by the colonial security agents.
Although majority of African traditional institutions and values were not eroded by European civilisation, African systems of government represented by Kings and chiefs were eradicated. Instead colonialism glorified autocracy, even though the European at the helm supported the ideals of democratic government in Europe. Logically they failed to introduce democracy into Africa. Only a handful of European officials in each colony took decisions and executed them. It did not matter whether they were officers, military commanders or judges. In their view Africans had no right to self determination and responsible government. However some Africans in each colony demonstrated that they were no tabula rasa by criticizing the government and organizing protest movements against unjust laws and official high-handedness. As expected such criticisms and