The rulers of Black Africa today are mostly men stamped in Western molds: Presidents, Prime Ministers and generals lead their nations along European lines, mindful less of cultural tradition than of economic progress. Most of the continent's ancient kingdoms have long since vanished, swept away by Europe an colonizers. Nonetheless, a few tribal kings remain in power in both West and Southern Africa (see color pages). In their hands is the survival of much of the Dark Continent's unique heritage.
By and large, the kings have little power at the national level, but their local influence survives. Venerated by their peoples, they serve as a logical and sometimes necessary intermediary between remote national governments and feudal-age tribesmen: they settle business dealings, land quarrels and even marital squabbles. Among the most notable of these royal remnants:
THE ONI OF IFE. A devout Anglican, Sir Adesoji Aderemi, 83, has been the spiritual leader of Nigeria's 12 million Yorubas for 43 years. Although out of national politics for many years, the Oni is respected by the Yorubas more than any other political or military leader in Nigeria. "There is much to be said for tradition as a means of keeping people together," he says. "In spite of advances in education and technology, there seems a new awareness of the value of preserving ancient customs and cultural values." One custom certain to be preserved: the Oni's annual battle with a warrior impersonating Ogun, the god of iron. By tradition, the Oni always wins, thus proving his power as leader of the Yorubas.
THE ALAFIN OF OYO. Second only to the Oni among Nigeria's four supreme Yoruban tribal kings, the Alaf-in, Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi, 34, is a thoroughly modern man who believes, as he puts it, that "it is still possible to live by old traditions in modern times." He spearheaded a drive that raised $30,000 for local development, whereupon an impressed regional government chipped in $60,000 for his projects. "I have told my people," he says, "that if they can save substantial sums of money in banks, they will attract loan capital to improve commercial and industrial life." An insurance broker before being installed as Alafin in 1971, he is also a former boxer and soccer player.
He stays fit by doing daily exercises in his palace, an old, rambling affair, parts of which are still mud-walled. The Alafin is confident of his relationship with his people: "There are many things we obas [kings] can do better for the people than government functionaries. We are here all the time and know the problems, while they are constantly being shifted around the country."