Tradition and Politics in Africa: Indigenous Political Structures in Africa is based on selected original papers presented at the International conference on Indigenous Political Structures and Governance in Africa, held at the University Of Ibadan, Nigeria, in 2001 under the auspices of the Ford Foundation. Drawing on the works of leading scholars, this volume explores the interaction between indigenous political structures and modern African states. The book focus on the response of indigenous political structures to Africa"s rapid social transformation in the twentieth century. Analyzed in the context of colonialism, decolonization, modernity, and postcolonial state formation, these essays examine the implications of rapidly changing indigenous political strutures for governance and politics in modern Africa. The chapters explore how indigenous politcal structures foster or hamper local initiatives in governance, and examines their critical role in the dynamic interplay between African states and societies.