The last kings of Africa

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EDITION:  INTERNATIONALU.S.MÉXICOARABICTV:  CNNiCNN en EspañolSet edition preferenceSign upLog in//Event.observe(window, 'load', function() {//$('hdr-search-box').focus();//});#hdr-editions a { text-decoration:none; }#cnn_hdr-editionS { text-align:left;clear:both; }#cnn_hdr-editionS a { text-decoration:none;font-size:10px;top:7px;line-height:12px;font-weight:bold; }#hdr-prompt-text b { display:inline-block;margin:0 0 0 20px; }#hdr-editions li { padding:0 10px; }#hdr-editions ul li.no-pad-left span { font-size:12px; }.hdr-arrow-intl, .hdr-arrow-us, .hdr-arrow-us2 { left:148px; }.hdr-arrow-us2 { left:180px; }HomeVideoWorldU.S.AfricaAsiaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastMoneyWorld SportEntertainmentTechTraveliReport/* STORY PAGE SPECIFIC CSS */.cnn_stryspccvrgehdr { background:#fff url('http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.e/img/3.0/mosaic/bg_speccov_hdr.gif') 0px 0px repeat-x; height:74px; overflow:hidden; width:980px; }.cnn_stryspccvrgehdr .cnn_stryspcvh1 { position:relative; height:74px; background:url('http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/ssi/story/3.0/banner/inside.africa.inc/inside.africa.jpg') 50% 0 no-repeat;overflow:hidden; width:980px; }.cnn_stryspccvrgebot { height:3px; background:#e6e6e6; font-size:1px; line-height:1px; }.cnn_stryspccvrgehdr .cnn_stryspcvh2 { font:bold 10px/12px arial;color:#666;padding:0 0 2px 0; }.cnn_stryspccvrgehdr .cnn_stryspcvh3 { font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight:bold; font-size:18px; line-height:21px; }.cnn_stryspccvrgehdr .cnn_stryspcvh5 { float:right;margin:30px 10px 0 0;display:inline;text-align:right; }.cnn_stryspccvrgehdr .cnn_stryspcvh20 { padding:0 0 2px 0; }.cnn_stryspccvrgehdr .cnn_stryspccvh6 { text-align:center; left:0; width:200px; height:74px; position:relative; margin-left:390px; overflow:hidden; }.cnn_stryspccvrgehdr .cnn_stryspccvh6 a { display:block; margin:0 auto; width:200px; height:74px; }#txtbnr .cnn_stryspccvh6 { display:none; }#txtbnr .cnn_stryspcvh1 { background:none; }Part of complete coverage onInside AfricaSHARE THISPrintEmailMore sharingRedditStumbleUponDelicious/* push in config for this share instance */cnn_shareconfig.push({"id" : "cnn_sharebar1","url" : "http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/27/world/africa/portraits-africas-fading-monarchs/index.html","title" : "The last kings of Africa"});The last kings of AfricaBy Monique Todd, for CNN October 27, 2014 -- Updated 1206 GMT (2006 HKT)window.CNN = window.CNN || {};(function setupContentMeta(ns) {ns.ContentMetadata = ns.ContentMetadata || {};ns.ContentMetadata.pageTopGallery = {};}(CNN));if (typeof cnnArticleGallery=="undefined"){var cnnArticleGallery={};if(typeof cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList=="undefined"){cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList=[];}}var expGalleryPT00=new ArticleExpandableGallery();expGalleryPT00.setImageCount(10);expGalleryPT00.setAdsRefreshCount(3);//cnn_adbptrackpgalimg("Portraits: Africa\'s fading monarchs", 1);.cnn_html_slideshow_metadata > .cnn_html_media_utility::before{color:red;content:'>>';font-size:9px;line-height:12px;padding-right:1px}.cnnstrylccimg640{margin:0 27px 14px 0}.captionText{filter:alpha(opacity=100);opacity:1}.cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a,.cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a:visited,.cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a:link,.captionText a,.captionText a:visited,.captiontext a:link{color:#004276;outline:medium none}.cnnVerticalGalleryPhoto{margin:0 auto;padding-right:68px;width:270px}Vienna-based photographer and art historian Alfred Weidinger has spent the past five years capturing the splendor of Africa's monarchies and tribal leaders for his photographic project, The Last Kings of Africa.

Bakary Yerima Bouba Alioum, Lamido of Maroua, CamerooncnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":true,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":1,"title":"Portraits: Africa\'s fading monarchs"}Weidinger was initially inspired by the late 19th and early 20th century photographs taken of African tribal leaders and kings. However, Weidinger decided to leave the composition to chance.

Fo Sikam Happi V. de Bana, Bamileke, CamerooncnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":2,"title":"Portraits: Africa\'s fading monarchs"}

Fon Ndofoa Zofoa III of Babungo, Cameroon" border="0" height="360" id="articleGalleryPhoto003" style="margin:0 auto;display:none" width="640"/>"I never arrange ... never! I just ask them what they want to do and then I photograph them the way they want to be shown," says Weidinger.

Fon Ndofoa Zofoa III of Babungo, CamerooncnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":3,"title":"Portraits: Africa\'s fading monarchs"}

Alhadji Abba Mahamat Moussa, Cameroon" border="0" height="360" id="articleGalleryPhoto004" style="margin:0 auto;display:none" width="270"/> "If they like to be shown with ministers, they're there in the image. If they like to be shown with their wives, they are there. I don't move them around. This is the reason why every image is more or less different in terms of style, because it's their style."

Alhadji Abba Mahamat Moussa, CamerooncnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":4,"title":"Portraits: Africa\'s fading monarchs"}

Sarauniya Aljima, Lougou, Niger" border="0" height="360" id="articleGalleryPhoto005" style="margin:0 auto;display:none" width="640"/>A standout moment was meeting the 'female king' Sarauniya Ajima, pictured, in Lougou, Niger. She has refused to be photographed in the past, but relented to let Weidinger take her picture.

"She's allowed to talk to people but nobody is allowed to see her. She comes out of her house only two times a week."

Sarauniya Aljima, Lougou, NigercnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":5,"title":"Portraits: Africa\'s fading monarchs"}Finding kings to photograph has proven quite tough, says Weidinger. There is no definitive guide that lists all the African monarchies and tribes. To find their location, Weidinger has to depend on the knowledge of locals.

Kan Iya, Obiré, Province of Poni, Burkina Faso. cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":6,"title":"Portraits: Africa\'s fading monarchs"}

"They became kind of assistants."
Nana Kwasi Asampong II, Biakoye, Ghana, 2012" border="0" height="360" id="articleGalleryPhoto007" style="margin:0 auto;display:none" width="270"/>One of the best resources for tracking down royals, says Weidinger, was taxi drivers.

"I have a very good network of drivers," he admits.

"They became kind of assistants."
Nana Kwasi Asampong II, Biakoye, Ghana, 2012cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":7,"title":"Portraits: Africa\'s fading monarchs"}

El-Hajj Naaba Kiiba, Ouahigouya, Burkina Faso" border="0" height="360" id="articleGalleryPhoto008" style="margin:0 auto;display:none" width="270"/>Weidinger found that one thing that seems to distinguish African monarchs from royals across the globe is a keen religious focus
"Their power is in spirituality and this makes (African monarchs) so unique," he says.

El-Hajj Naaba Kiiba, Ouahigouya, Burkina FasocnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":8,"title":"Portraits: Africa\'s fading monarchs"}

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The 220 rulers Weidinger profiled varied in many ways. Some were elected, others attained their position through hierarchy. Some never left their villages, while others were educated abroad.

Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa, Yola, NigeriacnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":9,"title":"Portraits: Africa\'s fading monarchs"}Tribes and kingdoms vary too in their relationship with the local government. The Jie, for instance, often clash with the ruling Ugandan government, who aren't always sympathetic to their nomadic traditions.

Lochoro Samuel, Karamoja, UgandacnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":10,"title":"Portraits: Africa\'s fading monarchs"}HIDE CAPTIONPortraits: Africa's fading monarchsPortraits: Africa's fading monarchsPortraits: Africa's fading monarchsPortraits: Africa's fading monarchsPortraits: Africa's fading monarchsPortraits: Africa's fading monarchsPortraits: Africa's fading monarchsPortraits: Africa's fading monarchsPortraits: Africa's fading monarchsPortraits: Africa's fading monarchs<<<12345678910>>>Event.observe(window,'load',function(){if(typeof(cnn_adbptrackpgalimg) == 'function' && typeof(cnnArticleGallery) != 'undefined'){cnn_adbptrackpgalimg(cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[0].image,"The last kings of Africa");}});STORY HIGHLIGHTSPhotographer Alfred Weidinger is traveling across Africa to capture the continent's last remaining monarchsHe has photographed 220 tribal kings and chiefs since 2009The biggest threat to these monarchs, says Weidinger, is cell phonesEvery week, Inside Africa takes its viewers on a journey across Africa, exploring the true diversity and depth of different cultures, countries and regions.

(CNN) -- For the past five years, Austria-based art historian and photographer Alfred Weidinger has traveled across Africa in search of royalty. His photography project, The Last Kings of Africa, is his attempt to capture the beauty and mystique of the region's most powerful sovereigns. So far he has photographed 220 tribal kings and leaders, with many more to go.

"I have a sort of deadline for myself -- which is the end of next year. It's not a question of the amount of kings or tribal leaders, it's just a question of countries," says Weidinger, who plans to visit Africa twice this year and six times in 2015.

"There are still countries I definitely want to visit, for example Swaziland and the southern part of Sudan."

Weidinger's photographic endeavors in Africa started in 1979 but the cumbersome equipment typical to that era quickly deterred the photographer. Fast forward 30 years, and a chance commission for a photographic exhibition sparked a long-term project where the lavish culture of Africa's dynasties became the focus.

Ahosu Agoli-Agbo Dédjalagni, King of Abomey, Benin, 2013 (born 1935, enthroned 1989)Alfred Weidinger Weidinger had no definitive guide to help him locate all of Africa's royals and tribal leaders. Armed with only two cameras and a tripod, his trips were mostly improvised.

"There is no list, there is nothing! So you just have to go there," says Weidinger.

"The most important thing is to find one king -- when I have one, he will guide me to the others."

The power game

There are hundreds of African monarchies scattered across the continent but in most cases governing power is either restricted or nonexistent. Government officials, however, know it's best not to overlook the influence these leaders possess over their respective communities.

"Some countries put the monarch system back into the constitution, they give power to the traditional leaders," says Weidinger.

The most important thing is to find one king
Alfred Weidinger, photographer"In effect, some politicians use it because every tribal leader (represents) an ethnic group and they still follow the words of the elder or the tribal leader, they are not following what is happening with the politicians in the capital."

According to Richard Dowden, the director of The Royal African Society and author of Africa: Authored States, Ordinary Miracles, monarchies tend to flourish in countries with a weak government structure or lacking a formal constitution. In these instances, tribal leaders and monarchs are deemed more trustworthy for getting things done. Niger, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso and Benin are a few examples of countries with a strong tribal leaders, some of whom occasionally tackle government functions. Fon Ndofoa Zofoa III, for example, makes official decisions over hereditary land in his chiefdom in Babungo in Cameroon. Other leaders, like Sarauniya Aljima, the queen of Lougou in Niger, weigh in on private matters, such as marriage.

"When there is a marriage to be made (in the village, monarchs) will return to sort it out. In these sorts of matters, they do retain a lot of power," says Dowden.

Weidinger found that one thing that seems to distinguish African monarchs from royals across the globe is a keen religious focus:

"Their power is in spirituality and this makes (African monarchs) so unique."

The danger of cell phones

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Though poised in luxurious cloths and perched on gilded thrones, the threat of globalization has disturbed the influence and social standing of many of Wedinger's subjects.

"When you come to a region and you see that they are working with mobile phones, it's a kind of sign. If you see mobile phones you definitely know that it's a dying ethnic group. African culture is changing, there are changes in communication. People are going to the capitals and living where there is no need for a king anymore," he says, adding that cell phones have made people living in rural communities less isolated. Now, the problems they would typically raise with their community leaders they can take to experts further afield.

Dowden, however, thinks these monarchs will retain their power for a while yet.

"I think the chiefs will survive," he says.

"Depending on how local governments in Africa develop, they'll either become figures for tourists or they'll continue to play a very important role."

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