Although the items were valued around £15,900, the King argues the collection is irreplaceable to his family and country. King Basah was crowned in 1987 after his grandfather, the reigning king, died. He was chosen over his elder brother and father because both are left-handed, an attribute that his people believe is unclean and indicative of dishonesty. Despite living in Germany, where he runs a garage, King Basah still governs the 200,000 Hohoe people through Skype and telephone calls, often staying up late into the night to rule on tribal disputes. He has become a minor local celebrity, appearing regularly on TV and local events. He has campaigned on behalf of his country, helping them secure medical aid – in the form of 22 doctors in the areas hospital – and regularly sending over equipment for water purification.
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