The Igbo of Eastern Nigeria in the pre-colonial era had

In the pre-colonial era, the Igbo people of Eastern Nigeria did not have a centralized government. Instead, they had a system of governance that was based on the autonomous village level. Each village had its own governing council, which was made up of the eldest men in the community. These councils were responsible for making decisions on behalf of the community and resolving disputes. The Igbo also had an age-grade system, which was a social organization based on age. Members of each age-grade would move up to the next level after a certain number of years, and this system provided a framework for the community to organize labor and social activities. While there were no formal kings or rulers, some villages had appointed chiefs who were responsible for carrying out the decisions of the council. These chiefs were not dictatorial in nature, but rather served as respected members of the community who were chosen for their wisdom and leadership qualities. It's worth noting that during the colonial period, the British authorities introduced the concept of "warrant chiefs" as a way to exert more control over the Igbo people. These warrant chiefs were appointed by the colonial government and often acted in ways that were not in the best interests of their communities. However, this was not a part of the traditional pre-colonial Igbo system of governance.