The last kings of Africa

Monique Todd, for CNN

Updated 1407 GMT (2207 HKT) March 25, 2015

Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds.

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>

Photos:

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

Hide Caption

1 of 10

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

Hide Caption

2 of 10

"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>

Photos:

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

Hide Caption

3 of 10

"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

Hide Caption

4 of 10

A standout moment was meeting the 'female king' Sarauniya Ajima, pictured, in Lougou, Niger. She has refused to be photographed in the past, but relented to let Weidinger take her picture. <br /><br />"She's allowed to talk to people but nobody is allowed to see her. She comes out of her house only two times a week."<br /><br /><em>Sarauniya Aljima, Lougou, Niger</em>

Photos:

Portraits: Africa's fading monarchs – A standout moment was meeting the 'female king' Sarauniya Ajima, pictured, in Lougou, Niger. She has refused to be photographed in the past, but relented to let Weidinger take her picture.

"She's allowed to talk to people but nobody is allowed to see her. She comes out of her house only two times a week."

Sarauniya Aljima, Lougou, Niger

Hide Caption

5 of 10

Finding kings to photograph has proven quite tough, says Weidinger. There is no definitive guide that lists all the African monarchies and tribes. To find their location, Weidinger has to depend on the knowledge of locals. <br /><br /><em>Kan Iya, </em><em>Obiré, Province of Poni, Burkina Faso. </em>

Photos:

Portraits: Africa's fading monarchs – Finding kings to photograph has proven quite tough, says Weidinger. There is no definitive guide that lists all the African monarchies and tribes. To find their location, Weidinger has to depend on the knowledge of locals.

Kan Iya, Obiré, Province of Poni, Burkina Faso.

Hide Caption

6 of 10