A is the highest-level traditional (usually tribal) Chief or political leader in a regional or local polity or Country typically administered politically with a Chief-based System .
The word was introduced by westerners, often in colonial times, as a generic term rendering various autochthonous institutions, which may vary considerably according to each community's culture and history - follow the links in the (probably incomplete) lists below.
However the term has also often been given legal sanction in order to use tribal institutions for Indirect Rule , sometimes even in post-independence republics - rather like the British, Dutch and other colonizing powers did, often successfully, with Princely State s, mainly in the East Indies.
- title since 1904 of the former ''laibon'' of all the Maasai in Kenya (not in Tanzania)
- ''Kgôsikgolo''
- --- of the Bamalete
- --- of each of the 7 major tribes of the Tswana , all in Botswana (former Bechuanaland)
- in present Lesotho since it emerges as a polity in 1822, a British Protectorate as Basutoland since 12 March 1868 (11 August 1871 - 18 March 1884 Annexed to Cape Colony as Basutoland territory, 18 March 1884 a separate colony, as one of the High Commission Territories; title changed to king at the 4 October 1966 independence from Britain.
- in Malawi ''Inkosi ya makosi'' was the title of two Ngosi dynasties : the Jere or Qeko dynasty (since 1840) and the Maseko or Gomani dynasty (since before 1832), both still existing
- in Namibia
- --- over the Awa-Khoi or "Red Nation" (more prominent then six other 'nations') of the Nama ( Khoi ) people, a Chiefdom established before 1700.
- --- title ''Okahandja'' Herero among that people, also Chief Ministers of Hereoroland (two incumbents 20 July 1970 - 5 December 1980), the 'homeland' of the Ovaherero
- The paramount chief position is most prominent in the nation state of Swaziland .
- in South Africa
- --- ''Khosikulu'' of the vhaVenda; after the people's split, (only?) of the haMphaphuli
- --- title ''Inkosi Enkhulu'' of the Xhosa people's following polities: amaGcaleka, amaMbalu, amaRharhabe, amaNdlambe, imiDushane kaNdlambe, imiQhayi, amaGasela, amaGwali, amaHleke, imiNdange, amaNtinde, amaGqunukhwebe
- --- title ''Inkosi Enkhulu'' of the AmaBhaca (until 1830 called abakwaZelemu)
- --- title ''Inkosi Enkhulu'' of the AmaPondo
- --- title ''Inkosi Enkhulu'' of the AmaPondomise
- --- title ''Inkosi Enkhulu'' of the AmaThembu
- on , the major Maori polity there since circa 1750, until the 2 May 1859 established Kingship movement
- on American Samoa --- (on Samoa, there is a paramount king ---)
- on Fiji :
- ---during the October - December 1987 secession agitation on one island, known as the Republic Of Rotuma , lead by Henry Gibson (remained in New Zealand), his style was ''gagaj sau lagfatmaro'', rendered as Paramount chief.
- ---the British Sovereign remains recognized as 'Great Chief', even since the country became a republic on 7 October 1987; however, this is not an office of state
- in French Polynesia : ''ari`i'' ---
- on Easter Island --- (presently in Chile ) paramount chief or king, the '''ariki henua'' ---
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