The headmen were appointed for life, as long as they remained loyal to the state.
One empowering feature of the 1869 legislation was that villagers were legally free to nominate their own headman.
In reality, however, the popularity of the headmen varied considerably.
The area that owed allegiance to a king was sub-divided into districts headed by headmen.
In this context, headmen also had an important role to play.
Instead, beginning at least in the early twentieth century, parents, pastors, chiefs, headmen and colonial officials argued that young women were becoming increasingly licentious.
When in 1913-14 officials turned to their headmen to help them meet a new demand for labour, the headmen were found wanting.
Kings and headmen who resisted colonial rule were removed.
