The traditional forms of stratification

In traditional societies in Nigeria, stratification  is based on the authority each person has in the community; and usually, possession of authority is based on tradition of the people.

    Nigerian traditional soc are headed by kings, chiefs, Obas, Emirs etc depending on the area concerned. A kingdom can be regarded ad an area of authority of a king, an obi or an Emir.

   Stratification In some areas is based on age and title as found among the Igbo's. People of the same age form age grades. The highest age grades are made up of the most aged people in the community.

  Though they may not be rich, the old people have greater influence on matters affecting the community especially those relating to traditions and customs of the community.

   Each kingdom is headed by a king who will be the highest authority and is followed by senior chiefs, village heads, ward leaders and compound heads in that other.

The king performs function ad the executive, judicial and legislative head. Also, hr possesses religious and economic powers. In some areas , the king has control over land and property in his area.

As a religious head, he is feared and respected by other members of his community.

It is often believed that the king is appointed leader by the gods and ancestors of his land. Therefore , in the past , people paid homage to the king at his palace by bringing various gifts and goodwill. The king  is helped by senior chiefs and elders of the kingdom.

    Next to the chiefs were the title holders and men who formed the military force of the kingdom. The military body constituted men who were strong enough to protect the kingdom from external attack or who kept public peace and order in the community.

  In the villages , "Baales" as in the Yoruba community, performed similar functions as chiefs. Each Yoruba village is divided into wards headed by ward heads who were usually the eldest men in the community. Such elders were referred as "ward Heads".

    The people of eastern part of Nigeria have stratification based on age groups. The teenagers formed the lowest stratum of the social class.

In eastern Nigeria, the elders and title holders formed the ruling class.

  With the advent of European civilization, social stratification in most traditional, societies have undergone very rapid and useful changes to suit modern times.