The last kings of Africa

Monique Todd, for CNN

Updated 1407 GMT (2207 HKT) March 25, 2015

Vienna-based photographer and art historian Alfred Weidinger has spent the past five years capturing the splendor of Africa's monarchies and tribal leaders for his photographic project, <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/a-weidinger/sets/72157629895167757/" target="_blank">The Last Kings of Africa</a>.<br /><br /><em> Bakary Yerima Bouba Alioum, Lamido of Maroua, Cameroon</em>
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Portraits: Africa's fading monarchs – Vienna-based photographer and art historian Alfred Weidinger has spent the past five years capturing the splendor of Africa's monarchies and tribal leaders for his photographic project, The Last Kings of Africa.

Bakary Yerima Bouba Alioum, Lamido of Maroua, Cameroon
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Weidinger was initially inspired by the late 19th and early 20th century photographs taken of African tribal leaders and kings. However, Weidinger decided to leave the composition to chance.<br /><br /><em>Fo Sikam Happi V. de Bana, Bamileke, Cameroon</em>
Photos:
Portraits: Africa's fading monarchs – Weidinger was initially inspired by the late 19th and early 20th century photographs taken of African tribal leaders and kings. However, Weidinger decided to leave the composition to chance.

Fo Sikam Happi V. de Bana, Bamileke, Cameroon
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"I never arrange ... never! I just ask them what they want to do and then I photograph them the way they want to be shown," says Weidinger.<br /><br /><em>Fon Ndofoa Zofoa III of Babungo, </em><em>Cameroon</em>
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Portraits: Africa's fading monarchs – "I never arrange ... never! I just ask them what they want to do and then I photograph them the way they want to be shown," says Weidinger.

Fon Ndofoa Zofoa III of Babungo, Cameroon
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"If they like to be shown with ministers, they're there in the image. If they like to be shown with their wives, they are there. I don't move them around. This is the reason why every image is more or less different in terms of style, because it's their style." <br /><br /><em>Alhadji Abba Mahamat Moussa, </em><em>Cameroon</em>
Photos:
Portraits: Africa's fading monarchs – "If they like to be shown with ministers, they're there in the image. If they like to be shown with their wives, they are there. I don't move them around. This is the reason why every image is more or less different in terms of style, because it's their style."

Alhadji Abba Mahamat Moussa, Cameroon
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