1st Edition

Leopards and Leaders Constitutional Politics among a Cross River People

By Malcolm Ruel Copyright 2004
    380 Pages
    by Routledge

    380 Pages
    by Routledge

    This study of politics and government among a West African people, the Banyang of the Upper Cross River, covers the end of the period of Colonial administration. The book:
    · Shows the inter-relationship between the structure of the small forest communities and the highly autonomous processes by which they were governed
    · Analyses the relationship between residence and common descent as principles of corporate grouping
    · Includes a case study of the political struggle involved in one community's claims to independence.
    Originally published in 1969.

    PREFACE -- Chapter 1 Introductory: ThE Banyang People -- Part I: The Morphology of the Complex Community -- 2 The Banyang Community -- 3 The Community and Common Descent -- 4 Community Constitution and the Colonial Administration -- Part II: Processes of Government -- 5 The Nature of Community Authority -- 6 Judicial Processes -- 7 Other Governmental Processes -- 8 Limitations upon the Corporate Structure of the Community -- Part III: The Role of the Associations -- 9 Traditional Associations -- 10 Ngbe -- 11 Modern Associations and the Clan Unions -- Part IV: Processes of Group Formation -- 12 Genealogical Growth and the Formation of New Residential Groups -- 13 The Processes of Constitutional Politics: the Tali Split -- Appendix A -- Appendix B -- Bibliography -- Index.

    Biography

    Malcolm Ruel,