Concept: Democratic features in pre-colonial West African governments depended on systems that prevented any single ruler from holding absolute power.
Explanation:These governments operated through councils, customary laws, and shared authority.
Power was distributed among different groups, such as chiefs, elders, and representatives.
This distribution created a system of checks and balances.
Each institution could limit the actions of the others.
Therefore, leadership remained accountable and consent-based.
This made the governments democratic in nature.
Answer: D. checks and balances