Discuss the political organization of the Abagusii in the 19th century.
Answer:
- They had a decentralized political system.
- Family was the basic political unit with the father the head. several related families formed a clan which was the main political unit.
- They had a chief called Abagambi. The chieftaincy was hereditary and he presided over religious ceremonies.
- They had the council of elders that performed various administrative and social functions e.g. maintaining law and order and solving land disputes. Initiated/circumcised boys joined an age set that acted as the military wing that defended the community.
- The special people like the diviners, prophets and medicine men were consulted before important decisions were made