Our Heritage

As we enter the department of the Bali Notables, we will start with the succession of our traditional leaders, the Fon. 

The Fon who has succeeded his father is the only successor, and there's no other succession that needs to take place apart from taking over from his father as the new ruler of the land. 

This is because, during traditional rites and incantations, the birth name of the Fon is mentioned. 

Since Bahgahgwayin III ascended the throne on February 4, 1977, taking over from his father as the second direct successor, there was no way his brother could claim to succeed their father; it wouldn't work. Two people can't perform the same traditional rites because, while pouring libation during an ancestral ceremony, the name of their father, Tawah, is supposed to be mentioned.

The person who has succeeded their father is the Fon for everybody, and there's no other succession to take place apart from the Fon title. The person who hasn't succeeded anybody can't decide for the Fon, so two people can't succeed one father with only one birth name. Succession is divided in a big compound where one person has a compound. All five Fons of the Bali villages took over from their fathers. That's why all princesses and princes must respect their father's successor.

When anybody succeeds the Fon in the palace, he automatically becomes the Fon of the whole village. 

The palace is a compound for all villagers, which explains why, whenever the Fon is going to the palace, he says, "I'm going to the palace," not "my home or compound."

The two Fons I served had their private compounds where they usually went to rest, but the palace is for the whole village. Bah Galabe had his compound at Fatfat, while Bah Gwayine had his at Pilimbo before moving to Lagmisang.

When a new Fon is enthroned, they build his mother's house in his grandfather's compound. 

After some traditional rites, they dance in the grandfather's compound to show that a Fon is coming from there. There's no double succession in Bali tradition because it doesn't have any basis or argument. All Bali villages' succession is hereditary.