How Colonial Rule Demeaned the Powers of Traditional Rulers

To demean is Intended to reduce or lower a person’s dignity, status, or character.

The colonial period witnessed a gradual reduction in the powers and influence of traditional rulers.

(i) The inclusion of traditional rulers in colonial administration turned them into stogies/appendages of the colonial government. Their inclusion in the colonial administration broke down the existing link between the traditional rulers and their people. They were turned into mere intermediaries. This eroded their real powers.

(ii) Introduction of modern work with monthly remunerationmoney paid or financial compensation for work or a service. More (salary/wages) granted economic power to the people.

(iii) The breakdown of traditional normsA norm is a rule, standard, or pattern for action. Social norm refers to shared standards of acceptable behaviour by a group of people. The norms in any society are based... More and values due to the impact of Western education made people question the powers of traditional rulers.

(iv) The influence of foreign religion reduced the powers of the traditional rulers as the spiritual and religious leaders of the people.

(v) The law courts established by the colonial administration eroded the traditional rulers’ judicial powers.

(vi) The colonialists appointed and deposed traditional rulers at will with little or no regard for the tradition of the people. This reduced the prestige of the traditional rulers.

(vii) The establishment of Public Treasury removed taxation powers from the traditional rulers.

(viii) Stoppage of inter-tribal wars deprived traditional rulers of one of the avenues of amassing wealth. They usually acquired land, slaves, and wealth from war booties.

(ix) Forced labour and conscription by the colonial administration reduced the powers of traditional rulers.

(x) Establishment of legislativeThe legislative branch of government is responsible for making laws within a country. Legislatures are made up of people called legislators who, in democracies, are elected by the country’s population More councils eroded traditional rulers’ law-making powers.

(xi) Establishment of a Police Force by the colonial administration reduced the powers of traditional rulers.

(xii) Emergence of Political parties after the Second World War also contributed to the demeaning powers of traditional rulers.