Human Rights. Respect for human beings was enshrined in the political and civil rights of West Africans, which included the rights of political participation, equal protection under the law, and freedom of speech and assembly. They also enjoyed the fundamental rights to earn a living and to receive a fair trial.

The Rule of Law. A major characteristic of ancient political systems in West Africa was the importance attached to the doctrine of the rule of law. Because people recognized that laws were made for the smooth running of the political system, there was widespread respect for the law and established judicial institutions. Rulers and the subjects were equally placed under the law. Laws were not arbitrarily made by an individual ruler or a handful of autocrats; they were enacted after a lengthy process of participation, including full public debates...