Both in economics and in politics, historical custom and precedent has limited minority power and has protected the welfare of the community.

Nevertheless, community power and wealth has come to be divided into two major divisions: the rich and powerful few and the poor and powerless majority.

Though the elite ruled and the masses served, rights and obligations which limited the amount of exploitation were always in existence.
One of the signs of the trend toward the increasing centralization of power within the society of West Africa was the development of a professional army.

The gigantic armies of Ghana had been conscripted from the common citizenry.

As the ruling class in West Africa adopted Islam and as its desire to increase its power continued to undermine local tradition and custom, there was more need for a professional army which would owe its total allegiance to the ruler.
Also, changes in military technology required a skilled and carefully trained army.