Reveal the lives of Africa's natural rulers, the chiefs.

In Africa, chiefs are mysterious figures. He is the "natural ruler" of the tribe and has absolute authority in all aspects. In order to appease the masses and consolidate political power, African countries still retain the chieftaincy system. Although administrative power is limited to some extent, they still have status and privileges beyond ordinary people and play a decisive role in the country's political life.

Chief status: some are equivalent to ministerial officials

During my stay in Africa, I have witnessed many times: when well-known chiefs appeared in public places, they shouted and hugged each other, and the bell opened the way. People bent down and knelt down to worship. Only after the chief left did they get up.

African chiefs are divided into one, two and three levels, or called large, medium and small chiefs. A first-level chief has jurisdiction over two to three hundred second-level chiefs, and a second-level chief has jurisdiction over dozens or even thousands of third-level chiefs. In many African countries, administrative units below the county level have basically no management institutions, and township and village-level affairs are the responsibility of second-level chiefs and third-level chiefs. Most chiefs are hereditary. Sometimes the government appoints second-level chiefs or villagers elect third-level chiefs. Chiefs are generally held by male Xing, and only a very small number of female Xing have served as chiefs.

In many African countries, the government pays first-level chiefs the salary equivalent to ministerial officials, provides special vehicles, and covers the expenses of a certain amount of service personnel. Some countries also regularly pay salaries to second-level chiefs. Most of the income of third-level chiefs (i.e. village-level chiefs) comes from taxes paid by villagers.

Chief Palace: A perfect combination of tradition and modernity

Most African chiefs live in seclusion, and people outside the world know little about their life experiences, lifestyles, interests, etc. There are many interesting anecdotes circulating among the people, which are mysterious and mysterious, and the truth is indistinguishable. Since I can speak the local national language, Hausa, I have had the honor of meeting chiefs, large and small, from Cameroon, Nigeria and other places, and have gained many unexpected gains in exploring the mysterious life of chiefs.

The Palace of the African Chiefs is generally large in area, divided into two courtyards, and the front yard is a working area. Walking into the front courtyard of the palace, you can see the perfect match of traditional African buildings and modern buildings hidden in the shade of green trees and beautiful scenery. There are also the front courtyards of some chief palaces that have maintained the ancient traditional African style. The earthen walls are several meters high, and the walls are smooth and smooth, with extraordinary style.

The backyard is the living area, commonly known as the "Inner Palace", where the chief, his wife, children and relatives live. There is a courtyard door in the front yard and backyard. The door is guarded by warriors. It is difficult for outsiders to pass through this door. The back courtyard is usually very large, with traditional African earthen houses neatly arranged. However, many houses are dilapidated, creating a huge contrast with the front yard.

The Hou Palace is almost a world for women and children. The age gap between those women is huge. Some are hunched and old, while some are like beautiful flowers and very beautiful. The women are busy with their own work, some scooping rice, some cooking, some washing clothes, some nursing children... Due to the hot weather, the women wear very little, and some only wear a small fig leaf around their lower body.

Daily life: Take turns spending the night in your wife's room

I once visited a village-level chief in the mountains near Fonduwa, an important town in northern Nigeria. The village is remote and has inconvenient transportation, and few foreigners come. When the villagers heard that China guests who spoke Hausa had entered the village, they ran out of their homes. There were more than 100 people and surrounded us.

Later, under the leadership of the chief with a white turban and white robe, we visited cottages, cotton fields, grain processing workshops, etc. one by one. Afterwards, the chief warmly invited us to visit his home. Except for having more rooms and taller shapes, the chief's house is almost no different from the houses of other villagers. We were invited into a house called the living room, which had nothing but a straw mat on the ground. The host and guest sat on the ground and talked freely.

During the conversation, the chief's four wives came in according to their age to greet us. The oldest is at least 60 years old and looks much older than the chief; the youngest is in his 30s, with beautiful features and a beautiful figure.

We asked the chief tentatively if we could visit his bedroom, but we didn't expect the chief to agree. So the chief led us to visit the rooms of his four wives one by one. There were no other objects in the rooms of the three elderly wives except a straw mat spread on the ground. In the young wife's room, there was an old cotton blanket on the straw mat, a small dilapidated radio on the ground, and a small wooden cabinet with a broken foot stood in the corner.

According to local tradition, the chief did not have his own bedroom and took turns spending the night in the rooms of his four wives. The chief said to us happily: "Outsiders are absolutely prohibited from entering the inner chambers of the Hausa people, but the China people are good friends of the African people. You are my brothers and have come from afar. I will lift the ban once."

The sun was about to set and we were preparing to leave the village and return. The chief repeatedly asked us to stay for one night. I jokingly asked the chief: "Where are you going to arrange for us to live?" He put his mouth to my ear and said softly: "If others live in the villagers 'homes, you live in my house." We thanked him for his friendliness and kindness, and walked in the sunset to bid farewell to this beautiful village.

We are very pleased with the chief's generous enthusiasm! Among countries where polygamy is practiced in Africa, the most prevalent among the Drogba people in Nigeria and Africa. The more wives a local man has, the higher his status and prestige he has.