Roles of Traditional Rulers – Basic 1 History Lesson Note (Third Term)

What Traditional Rulers Do

Traditional rulers have many important jobs in the community.

1. Political Role (Leadership)

• They lead the community
• They advise the government
• They represent their people
• They attend important meetings

2. Religious Role (Spiritual)

• They lead traditional festivals
• They pray for the community
• They perform traditional ceremonies
• They bless the people

3. Judicial Role (Settling Problems)

• They settle disputes (fights or arguments)
• They listen to both sides
• They give fair judgment
• They maintain peace in the community

Other Roles:

• They preserve culture and tradition
• They welcome important visitors
• They give titles to deserving people
• They protect the land

Limitations to Their Power

Traditional rulers cannot do everything:

• They must follow government laws
• They cannot punish people anyhow
• The government is more powerful
• They must respect people’s rights
• They work with the local government

Multiple choice exercise 

1. Traditional rulers _____ the community. 

1. a) lead
2. b) destroy
3. c) ignore

1. Traditional rulers settle _____ in the community. 

1. a) disputes
2. b) schools
3. c) hospitals

1. Who leads traditional festivals? 

1. a) Teachers
2. b) Traditional rulers
3. c) Students

1. Traditional rulers must follow _____ laws. 

1. a) no
2. b) government
3. c) foreign

1. Traditional rulers _____ for the community. 

1. a) pray
2. b) fight
3. c) run away

HOMEWORK 

1. Write 3 roles of traditional rulers.
2. Draw a traditional ruler settling a dispute.
3. Ask: What does our traditional ruler do?
4. Tell one thing traditional rulers cannot do.