i86 AFRICAN POLITICAL SYSTEMS
by the political changes as to account for the decline of chiefl authority. What has changed is rather the spiritual background the conception, of Kede autonomous chieftainship. It has los its place in the scheme of Kede political life, which is sti growth and expansion. It has been shorn of the qualities of self responsible and exclusive leadership, which, in this dynami society, constituted the raison d'etre of its once absolute powei What remains of the leadership vested in the Kede chief is leadership moving in the narrow circle of modern administrate boundaries and under the patronage of another, higher, authority It had to surrender its prerogative of guiding and protecting th movements of the group as they followed, farther and farthe afield, the lead of the general economic and cultural developmen of the country.
This change in the whole political existence of the Kede is mos conspicuous in the Kede groups which now lie outside Bid Emirate and the area ruled over by the Kuta, Here the liquidatio: of Kede autonomy could not have been effected without disturb ing consequences had Kede chieftainship still held its old meaning Sentimental bonds between the split-off groups and the mother country are still conspicuous; but on the whole I have gained th impression that these groups do not (or no longer) seriously mis or resent the separation, or contemplate the possibility of som future reunion. The weakened appeal of political autononr reflects the general development, political and cultural, that ha overtaken the country and separated autonomy from its vita counterparts in social life: economic and cultural unity, and th solidarity of community life. To put it differently: culture self-realization has become possible outside the narrow politics boundaries. I shall have to return to this point; but let me men tion here a certain proof of the statement just made—namely, th continued, and even increasing, emigration to those distant Ked settlements which could under no circumstances be anything els but Minorities* under alien rule.
VII. Social Stratification
The division of political rights and duties in Kede country anc implied in it, the unequal economic advantage enjoyed by th different'sections of the population constitute the basis of a rigi social stratification. Ethnic and cultural differences add thei