The kingdoms of the southern savannas—unlike the…

The kingdoms of the southern savannas—unlike the societies of the rain-forest zone, where power is diffused among a group of elders or else centered upon a clan head or a village chief—develop elaborate political structures, buttressed by the symbolic force of monarchy as well as by military force.

Despite significant variations in the extent to which kings can be said to exercise an effective monopoly of power, relations between rulers and ruled are structured along hierarchical lines.

Typically, power emanates from the central seat of authority to the outer provinces through the intermediation of appointed chiefs or local clan heads.

Relations between center and periphery, however, are by no means free of ambiguity.

Ensuring the loyalty of subordinate chiefs is the critical problem faced by African rulers throughout the southern savanna zone.