Traditional chiefs of Palau
Palauan leaders
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Palau has several traditional chiefs of its 16 states. A factor that resulted in the decline of chiefly authority in Palau was the introduction of elected governors, called upon in the Constitution of Palau which came into effect on 1 January 1981.[1]
List of current chiefs
.jpg)
.jpg)
| Title | State | Incumbent | Predecessor | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Council of Chiefs | ||||
| Beouch | Ngardmau | Demei Obakrairur[2] | Sakaziro Demk[3] | |
| Heimong | Hatohobei | Vacant[2] | ||
| Ibedul | Koror | Alexander Merep[4] | Yutaka Gibbons[5] | See ibedul succession dispute. |
| Maderngebuked | Ngaraard | Thomas Remengesau Jr.[6] | Thomas Remengesau Sr.[2] | |
| Ngirakebou | Ngchesar | Andres Madraisau[7] | Roman Bedor[2] | |
| Ngiraked | Airai | Yukiwo P. Dengokl[2] | Johnson Toribiong[8] | |
| Ngirturong | Ngeremlengui | John Sugiyama[9] | Yamakazaki Rengiil[2] | |
| Nurap | Sonsorol | Nicholas Aquino[2] | ||
| Obak | Peleliu | Vacant[10] | Isao Singeo[2] | |
| Rdechor | Kayangel | Isimang Bandarii[2] | ||
| Rekemesik | Ngatpang | Surangel S. Whipps[2] | Ngiratkel Etpison[11] | Title disputed by Uchelsias Shallum Etpison, son of Ngiratkel Etpison.[12] |
| Reklai | Melekeok | Raphael B. Ngirmang[2] | ||
| Rengulbai | Aimeliik | Yukiwo Etpison[2] | ||
| Ucherbelau | Angaur | Lorenso Edward[2] | ||
| Uongerchetei | Ngerchelong | Mathias Erbai[13] | Victor Joseph[2] | |
| Uongruious | Ngiwal | Vacant[14] | Paulus Wong[2] | |
| Other chiefs | ||||
| Bilung | Koror | Gloria Salii[5] | Ngerdoko[15] | Female counterpart of ibedul and highest ranking female chief.[16][5] |
| Ngiraikelau | Koror | Franco Gibbons[17] | 2nd highest ranking chief in Koror.[17] | |
| Uchelsias | Peleliu | Shallum Etpison[12] | Yukiwo Shmull[12] | Specifically chief of Ngesias which is the central portion of Peleliu.[12] |
Ibedul
Ibedul is a title given to the high chief of Koror, in Palau, who is also the head of the Idid clan.[18][19] Koror is the most populated state with approximately 64% of Palauans living there as of 2020 and so historically bearers of the title were sometimes erroneously referred to as "Kings of Pelew" despite them not having authority over all of modern-day Palau.[20][21]
List of known ibeduls
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abba Thulle[22] fl. 1783 |
 |
|||
| Ilengelekei[23] 1871 – 1911 (39–40) |
 |
1911 | ||
| Louch[23] 1911 – 1917 (5–6) |
 |
1917 | ||
| Tem[23] 1917 – 1943 (25–26) |
1943 | |||
| Mariur[23] 1943 – 1958 (14–15) |
1958 | |||
| Ngoriakl[23] 1958 – 1972 (13–14) |
1972 | |||
| Yutaka Gibbons[23] 1973 – 4 November 2021 (47–48) |
 |
17 January 1944 | 4 November 2021 Aged 77 | |
| Alexander Merep[4] February 22, 2022 – present (4 years, 21 days) |
Living |
