Governments arose in Medieval Africa times as communities grew along history.
- In smaller communities for example, power was shared among many people. Villages made decisions by reaching a consensus after open discussions.
- If Villages were part of a kingdom, they had to obey decisions from a distant court and pay taxes
- In another system of government, Villages were grouped into districts and governed by officials like the kingdom of Kongo around year 1500. Each Village of the kingdom of Kongo paid taxes in cowrie shells to a governor.