256 AFRICAN POLITICAL SYSTEMS
terms of the modern privileges of chiefship, of a status which is merely that of primus inter pares in the native system. His pre-eminence of rank is apparent from the deference shown to him by all other lineage heads in Taleland, as well as from the special taboos observed by him alone. Yet he has no administrative authority over any other community than Tongo, not even over the junior—but locally and politically autonomous—branches of Mosuorbiis. The Tongo na'am may be taken as a paradigm, for it differs from lesser chiefships only in degree.
'The chiefship belongs to all of us' ('Na'am la a ti waabt borf) is a maxim often cited. The office belongs to the maximal lineage, the clan, the community; a particular chief is only its temporary incumbent. This conception, expressing the identification of the whole group with the no!am, their loyalty to and pride in it, is the basis of a chief's moral and political authority. A chief cannot be deposed, nor will dissident segments secede, however objectionable a particular chief may be. They know that their turn to hold the chiefship will come round; for every member of the maximal lineage which has the prerogative of a particular chiefship is eligible for it. Rank is temporary in a given segment. Conversely, only agnatic descendants of the founder of a no?am may hold it, as only they can directly invoke the beneficence of the chiefly ancestor spirits.1
The Tallensi say that na'am is purchased (da). Theoretically, any eligible man, young or old, may compete for it. Actually men of junior status are considered to be unsuitable. Indeed, only elders commanding the services of many dependants could, formerly, raise the 'price'2 enabling them to compete, partly from their own resources, but largely by borrowing from clansmen and kindred. Competition for a chiefship was a contest of segments, not of individuals. The higher a man's prestige and standing, the wider would be the span of the segment supporting him with loans and by their presence on the election day. The general level of economic equality made the purchase of na'am an indirect ballot.
1 Thus theoretically every agnatic descendant of Mosuor is eligible for any of the chiefships held by Mosourbiis, and members of accessory lineages are ineligible. Actually, the political independence of each branch is asserted by the restriction of competition for its chiefship to its own members. Some minor chiefships may be held by members of two or more clans on the same principle.
2 Minor chiefships 'cost' eight or nine cattle, important chiefships up to seventy head of cattle, as well as large sums of cowries—not to speak of the many presents that must be given to the elector's elders to obtain their good offices.