ABSTRACT
This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on the major themes discussed in the previous chapters of this book. The book examines why Africa's traditional institutions of governance have remained entrenched, how widely they are adhered to by the population, and what the organizational structure of their leadership is. It explores what the most important socioeconomic implications are of the presence of dichotomous institutional systems, what relevance, if any, traditional institutions have to contemporary governance of Africa and how their relevant aspects might be reconciled with the formal institutions of the state. By attempting to address these neglected research questions the book makes a notable contribution to the literature on African studies in general and on African governance in particular. Traditional institutions also vary widely with respect to the size of their adherents, although the organizational structures of the leadership do not seem to have an impact on the level of their adherence.
