The National Conference is emerging as a modern African form of government restructuring. It is closely modeled on village consensus politics. Under the silk cotton tree in the center of the village, every Elder in turn takes the Word and has his say. Each Elder carefully repeats the points he agrees with from previous speeches, then adds certain aspects that will be taken up and repeated in their turn. So finally the Chief interprets consensus. This is the decision of the village. It is slow but it works. Robert Lacville Guardian Weekly, October 27, 1991 At a recent.
