We met the 20th reigning King of Konso, King Kalla, who acts as the traditional leader of the Konso people in Ethiopia. While a council of elders governs each village, the king serves as the ultimate authority on major disputes and decisions affecting the entire tribe, which is estimated at around 300,000 people. The kingship is a family affair, with the current king following in his father’s footsteps. King Kalla Gezahegne graduated with an engineering degree but returned to his village to assume the responsibilities of kingship after his father’s death. We left a tip of 1,000 ETB at the end of the visit to the royal compound, which was warmly appreciated.
