In a ceremony so secret, it is believed any outsiders witnessing the event will be killed, the southern Ethiopian tribe of Boreno, coronated its new King. 
Guyyoo Gobbaa, a 36 year old cattle farmer, is to rule over the Boreno for the next eight years. According to tradition, he was handpicked at birth to be his tribe’s King in a complex rotating system of Boreno’s Kings.
“If you see them exchanging power you’ll die,” said Mohammed Nur, a member of the Borena tribe who is also a local government official. “You’ll spit blood. It is totally sacred.”
Gobbaa is spending his three coronation days eating rich food and meeting with tribal leaders.
His kingship has been accepted by the Ethiopian government.
Traditional rulers exist alongside formal government in many African countries, and their behind-the scenes influence can help or hinder vital national interests.
Gobbaa plans to fix his 1 million people’s ailing economy by improving access to livestock markets and patching up relations with other tribes.
“My main aim is to uphold this traditional culture,” he said. “Not only for Borena. For the whole of Ethiopia.”
The Borena claim their monarchial system dates back 550 years.
But there are some talks of changing it.
“I don’t know,” Mohammed Nur said when asked about the future. “Maybe we won’t want the traditional power. Maybe we’ll want the democratic one.”
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