J28 AFRICAN POLITICAL SYSTEMS
subsequently given equal political and legal status with the Bahima of Ankole.
Exactly how the Bahima of Ankole were organized into a State and how they created the political society of the Banyankole kingdom we cannot now tell. But the elements of the situation as we have enumerated them are observable. There were external conditions to which the Bahima adjusted themselves and by the detailed analysis of the processes of adjustment these conditions became evident. This adjustment process corresponds to the functions of the Bahima State. First among these functions was the domination of the Bairu, expressed by inferior legal status and the obligation of tribute payment; and along with inferior legal status went inferior social status amounting essentially to a caste difference. Secondly, the State defended the territory and the people of Ankole from external raiders and conquerors. Thirdly, the State embarked upon a programme of conquest which was limited only by similar ventures on the part of neighbouring kingdoms.
I/. Political Status
What is political action but the qreation and destruction of forms of social organization through the exercise of organized power? No sooner were the ethnically different Bahima and Bairu brought into contact by the environmental and social forces already described than they were forced to define not only their relationships to one another, but also to modify the relationships binding the members of each group to one another.
No longer were the Bahima cattle men free agents, united in extended families and loosely knit lineages and clans; they were now also members of a political group. If the Bahima were going to further their interests as Bahima, they had to organize and act together as Bahima. At bottom this new relationship was based on Bahimaship—upon race and cattle-ownership. But this special political bond had to be created, had to be consciously entered into. It involved leadership, co-operation, submission to authority. It gave rise to kingship and the dynastic principle, the organization of military forces and chieftainship. In short, it welded the Bahima into a State, the nucleus of the Banyankole kingdom.
This new political relationship was established through okutoisha, or clientship. A Muhima cattle-owner would go before