The Yoruba traditional system of government was

1. Analyze the question The question asks about the form of government in traditional Yoruba society (e.g., Oyo, Ife, Ijebu, Egba). We need the term that best describes it.

2. Explain the concept

• Monarchical: power is vested in a king, usually hereditary or selected from royal lineages.
• Egalitarian: all people have equal status. This describes some Igbo village systems, not Yoruba.
• Republican: the head of state is elected and there is no monarch.
• Democratic: rule by the people directly or through elected representatives.

3. Step-by-step solution

• The Yoruba political system was centred on the Oba (king), such as the Alaafin of Oyo, the Ooni of Ife, and the Awujale of Ijebu.
• The Oba was chosen from royal families by kingmakers (e.g., the Oyo Mesi, who selected the Alaafin).
• The Oba was a sacred figure, regarded as a representative of the gods, and had considerable authority.
• There were checks on his power, such as the Oyo Mesi council and the Ogboni cult. These checks did not remove the monarchy. They only limited it.
• Option B (egalitarian) fits the Igbo system better. Options C and D do not describe a system headed by a hereditary king.

4. Answer The Yoruba traditional system of government was monarchical, which is Option A.

5. Exam tip Remember the pairing:

• Yoruba → monarchical (Oba)
• Igbo → egalitarian / republican-like (village councils, age grades)
• Hausa-Fulani → emirate system (Emir, Islamic influence)

Matching each major group to its political style helps you answer these questions quickly.