How do I in good conscience pay homage to traditional rulers?
Q: I have always thought that God is the only Unquestionable One. So I have great difficulty addressing traditional rulers as ‘Kabiyesi’. How do I in good conscience pay homage to traditional rulers? [First published on 5 April 2009]
No mortal would, knowingly and wilfully, desire to take God’s place, to usurp his authority. A few who tried came out worse for it. The Bible records three such instances. Pharaoh was king of Egypt. He was approached by Moses to ‘let God’s people go’. His response was rude and disrespectful: Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go!” After a few unforgettable encounters with Jehovah, the Pharaoh ate his words and let Israel go.
King Nebuchadnezzar was walking on the balcony of the royal palace in Babylon when he boasted, “Look at this – Babylon the great! I built it all by myself, a royal palace fit to display my honour and glory!” The words were no sooner out of his mouth than a voice out of heaven spoke: “This is the verdict on you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your kingdom is taken from you. You will be driven out of human company and live with the wild animals. You will eat grass like an ox. The sentence is for seven years, enough time to learn that the High God rules human kingdoms and puts whomever he wishes in charge.” It happened at once. Nebuchadnezzar was driven out of human company, ate grass like an ox, and was soaked in dew from the atmosphere. His hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a hawk. (Daniel 4:28-33)
The third instance was Herod, king of Judaea (Acts 12:21-23). He made a national broadcast and the people played their part to the hilt, shouting out flatteries: “The voice of God! The voice of God!” The king drank in the sycophancy and was struck down by an angel. He was eaten by worms and died.
No human can truly be saluted ‘Kabiyesi’ – the Unquestionable One. It is an appellation that belongs to God and God alone. Kings have been deposed and even banished from their kingdom but God reigns forever. Presidents have been impeached, jailed and even assassinated but God lives forever. He has said of Himself “I am the LORD, and there is no other. There is no other God besides me. From the east to the west people will know that there is no God except me. I make light and create darkness. I make blessings and create disasters. I, the LORD, do all these things. …Let them spring up. I, the LORD, have created them.
Does the clay ask the one who shapes it, “What are you making?” Are you going to give me orders concerning my handiwork? I made the earth and created humans on it. I stretched out the heavens with my own hands. I commanded all the stars to shine..” Isaiah 45:5-12 (GW) The Scriptural prescription for showing honour (to office holders or older people) is found in Leviticus 19:32 (NKJV): You shall rise before the gray headed and honour the presence of an old man (this act is noticeable at public functions where heads of nation/state/territory are in attendance). If one must say something, consider: K’oba pe – Yoruba for ‘Long live the King.’