Final answer:
Stateless societies are societies without a centralized political authority, characterized by kinship relations and egalitarian social structures. Many societies in Africa during this time were stateless, with a predominant hunter-gatherer lifestyle.
Step-by-step explanation:
Stateless societies refer to societies that do not have a centralized political authority, such as kings or governments. These societies are characterized by being organized mainly through kinship relations and having a more egalitarian social structure.
In the context of Africa during this time period, many societies were stateless. They were predominantly hunter-gatherer societies, where people relied on hunting animals and gathering plants for their subsistence. As these societies were constantly on the move, it was difficult for political authorities to exert control over them, resulting in the absence of centralized states. Examples of stateless societies in Africa include the San people in Southern Africa and the Pygmies in Central Africa.