This Cameroonian Leader Has 100 Wives And 500 Children

Abumbi inherited many of his queens after the death of his father, as is local tradition

Abumbi II became the 11th king of the Bafut region in Cameroon after his father died. He got 72 wives from his late father and over 500 children from all of his wives.

He is the head of one of the traditional kingdoms in Cameroon

As is custom, when a king dies, his successor inherits all of his wives.

King Abumbi says it is his job to preserve the culture of his people and their local traditions, meaning his wives are very important to him.

The African king who has close to 100 wives

The queens are often well spoken, speaking several languages and are accomplished in education. He lives with his 100 wives in the palace of the Fon of Baut, called Ntoh, which is a major tourist attraction and is listed as one of the world's most endangered sites.

Conveying Tradition

Abumbi's third wife, told CNN: 'Behind every successful man must be a very successful, staunch woman.

'Our tradition has it that when you are king, the elderly wives remain to hand down the tradition to the younger wives, and also to teach he king the tradition because the king had been a prince, not a king.'

The Traditional Role

The traditional role of the fon is to control external relations of the area, as well as internal governance.

They are also in charge of justice and offer sacrifices to his ancestors in a spiritual role.