The Chief of Peace

The chief's role is to mediate and provide pathways for symbolic exchange between conflictal groups. But when there are conflicts, it does seem like he can only remain chief in so far as heis able to be a kind of peace broker or mediator. And that remainder is the threat to to the social balancet. It was n't asily that the people wouldn't always listen to the chiefs that during his ceremonial functions every day. They ignore him, and he kind of gives the pep talk. He's not saying thing they haven't heard. So really, he's not saying anything with any meaning. It is a kind of symbolic exchange.