The major pre-colonial government in sub-Saharan Africa were centralized city-state and the decentralized government systems.
The centralized system involved a well-organized system of government led by the king as the head of the state as well as controlled all the activities in the kingdom. This system in sub-Saharan Africa was hereditary meaning it was passed from the father to the firstborn son,
Some communities also had the decentralized system of government. This system of pre-colonial government was headed by council elders who made rules as well as resolved disputed among the society members. the decentralized system made sure that every generation had a chance to rule and this was achieved by passing the power to the next generation in line (age set).