Chieftaincy and Politics : The Tor Tiv in the Politics and Administration of Tivland

The Chieftaincy institution in the Tiv context has been analysed to establish its dynamic qualities. In its interaction with the modern state since the colonial era, it has been established that the institution has undergone tremendous changes - losing authority but still retaining relevance for the Tiv masses and elite who, before the colonial advent, had no chieftaincy. The large issue of the role of traditional authorities in a modern democratic state has been examined from a comparative perspective.