Editing Village (section)

==Africa==

===Nigeria===
[[File:A Village in Kaita.jpg|thumb|A village in [[Kaita, Nigeria|Kaita]], Nigeria]]

Villages in [[Nigeria]] vary significantly because of cultural and geographical differences.

'''Northern Nigeria'''

In the [[Northern Nigeria|North]], villages were under [[Nigerian traditional rulers|traditional rulers]] long before the [[Jihad]] of [[Usman dan Fodio|Shaikh Uthman Bin Fodio]] and after the Holy War. At that time [[Nigerian traditional rulers|Traditional rulers]] used to have [[absolute monarchy|absolute power]] in their administrative regions.
After Dan Fodio's Jihad in 1804,<ref>The New Encyclopædia Britannica, Vol. 6, 15th Edition. {{ISBN|0-85229-961-3}}, p. 763</ref> political structure of the North became Islamic where [[emir]]s were the political, administrative and spiritual leaders of their people. These emirs appointed a number of people to assist them in running the administration and that included villages.<ref>Sani Abubakar Lugga. ''The Great Province'', Lugga Press Gidan Lugga, Kofar Marusa Road, Katsina Nigeria, {{ISBN|978-2105-48-1}}, p. 43</ref>

Every Hausa village was reigned by Magaji ([[Village head]]) who was answerable to his Hakimi ([[mayor]]) at the town level. The Magaji also had his cabinet who assisted him in ruling his village efficiently, among whom was Mai-Unguwa (Ward Head).<ref>Sani Abubakar Lugga. ''The Great Province'', Lugga Press Gidan Lugga, Kofar Marusa Road, Katsina Nigeria, {{ISBN|978-2105-48-1}}, p. 63</ref>

With the creation of Native Authority in Nigerian provinces, the autocratic power of village heads along with all other traditional rulers was subdued hence they ruled 'under the guidance of colonial officials'.<ref name = "Johnson">A Johnson Ugoji Anyaele. ''Comprehensive Government'', A Johnson Publishers LTD. Surulere, Lagos. {{ISBN|978-2799-49-1}}, p. 123</ref>

Even though the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has not recognised the functions of traditional rulers, they still command respect in their villages<ref name = "Johnson" /> and political office holders liaise with them almost every time to reach people.

In Hausa language, village is called ''ƙauye'' and every local government area is made up of several small and large ''ƙauyuka'' (villages). For instance, [[Girka]] is a village in [[Kaita, Nigeria|Kaita]] town in Katsina state in Nigeria. They have mud houses with thatched roofing though, like in most of the villages in the North, zinc roofing has become a common sight.

Still in many villages in the North, people do not have access to potable water.<ref>{{Cite journal
| doi = 10.1017/S0022172400028862
| last1 = Adesiyun | first1 = A. A.
| last2 = Adekeye | first2 = J. O.
| last3 = Umoh | first3 = J. U.
| last4 = Nadarajab | first4 = M.
| title = Studies on well water and possible health risks in Katsina, Nigeria
| journal = The Journal of Hygiene
| volume = 90
| issue = 2
| pages = 199–205
| year = 1983
| pmid = 6833745
| pmc = 2134251
}}</ref> So they fetch water from ponds and streams. Others are lucky to have wells within a walking distance. Women rush in the morning to fetch water in their clay pots from wells, boreholes and streams. However, the government is now providing them with water bore holes.<ref>[http://abrahamplace.blogspot.jp/2012/10/how-katsina-state-is-doing-so-much-with.html How Katsina state is doing so much with so little]. abrahamplace.blogspot.jp (29 October 2012; original from peoplesdaily-online.com).</ref>

Electricity and GSM network are reaching more and more villages in the North almost every day. So bad feeder roads may lead to remote villages with electricity and unstable GSM network.<ref>[http://www.cellular-news.com/story/16837.php Nigerian Operator Expands Coverage]. cellular-news.com (5 April 2006).</ref>

'''Southern Nigeria'''
[[File:A family house in a local community.jpg|alt=A picture of a village house in Southern Nigeria|thumb|A village house in Southern Nigeria]]
Village dwellers in the Southeastern region lived separately in "clusters of huts belonging to the patrilinage".<ref>[http://www.igboguide.org/HT-chapter10.htm Village]. igboguide.org</ref> As the rainforest region is dominated by [[Igbo language|Igbo]] speaking people, the villages are called ''ime obodo'' (inside town) in Igbo language. A typical large village might have a few thousand persons who shared the same market, meeting place and beliefs.

=== South Africa===
In South Africa the majority of people in rural areas reside in villages. They vary in size from having a population of less than 500 to around 1000.