The wearing of kente cloth was originally the perogative of the Asantehene (king) and certain high-ranking chiefs.
The execution of a high-ranking chief caused more than one chief to reconsider his support for such a troublesome monarch.
Māori soldiers of the New Zealand Pioneer Battalion performed a waiata tangi, normally reserved for high-ranking chiefs, during his funeral.
In traditional Hawaiian society, only high-ranking chiefs could wear feather cloaks and palaoa, or carved whale teeth.
Tanumafili had been a founding member of Apia's so-called Toe'aina Club which provided high-ranking Samoan chiefs a venue for socialization and collaboration.
"There is no basis for them keeping the guns away," said the former high-ranking chief, who requested anonymity.
Originally the fabric, woven with imported silk threads, was the exclusive prerogative of the Ashanti king and a few high-ranking chiefs.
Monuments and palaces of many high-ranking chiefs were looted.
An ancient law allowed only high-ranking tribal chiefs to visit its peak.
For this reason, a kapu (ancient Hawaiian law) restricted visitor rights to high-ranking tribal chiefs.