Who be Dalai Lama and why tok about im successor dey trend?

Di Tibetan spiritual leader, di Dalai Lama don confam say im go get a successor afta im death.

E tok say na only di foundation wey e set up fit recognise a future Dalai Lama and "no one else get dat kain authority to to put mouth"

According to Tibetan tradition, dem go 'reborn' di Dalai Lamas for anoda bodi afta dem die.

Di current Dalai Lama wey dem exile from Tibet afta China join dem decades ago, don make succession a big kasala as e turn 90.

Hundreds of followers gada to hear di long-awaited announcement for di Indian town of Dharamshala wia e dey live since e dey exile since wen e run comot from Tibet for 1959.

Howeva, di China govment respond say only am fit choose di Dalai Lama successor, and dem gatz "approve am by di central govment".

Earlier , di Dalai Lama share a video message wia e confam say di 600-year-old institution of Tibetan spiritual leader go kontinu afta im death and say im go get a successor.

E add say only di Gaden Phodrang Trust, wey im create get di authority to recognise im future reincarnation.

But China dey regards di Dalai Lama as a separatist.

Who be Dalai Lama

Born as Lhamo Dhondup for 1935 to a farming family, di 14th Dalai Lama na just two years old wen e identify as di reincarnation of di Thubten Gyatso, di 13th Dalai Lama.

For 1940, dem move am from im home, a small hamlet for northeastern Tibet, to di Potala Palace wey be di former seat of di Dalai Lama wia dem declare am as di spiritual leader of Tibetans.

Dem give am a new name as Tenzin Gyatso.

Dis na how e begin im monastic education. Im curriculum cova topics and subjects, like logic, Sanskrit grammar, medicine and most importantly, Buddhist philosophy.

For 1959, wen im be 23 years old, e run go India wit thousands of oda Tibetans afta a failed anti-Chinese uprising, and e live for exile for Dharamshala since den.

For 1989, dem award am a Nobel Peace Prize for im "nonviolent struggle to protect Tibetan identity".

For decades, dem regard am as an influential global figure, as his followers go far beyond Buddhism.

How di Dalai Lama end up for India?

Di Dalai Lama don dey live for India since 1959 afta e run comot from Tibet as a young man.

On 10 March 1959, a Chinese general bin invite di Dalai Lama to attend a dance performance. But di Tibetans fear say na trap to kidnap di Dalai Lama, and many begin dey gada for im palace to protect am.

Dis turn into protests against di Chinese to claim di Tibetan territory since 1950. Di People's Liberation Army launch a brutal crackdown and reports say thousands don die.

Days later, di Dalai Lama run comot, a decision wey e say na divine orders from im personal oracle.

E disguised imsef as a soldier and enta di crowd one night togeda wit thousands of followers. E arrive for di Indian border afta 15-day trek across di Himalayas.

Wen di Dalai Lama arrive for India for March 1959 wit thousands of im followers, di den prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru bin welcome am.

Nehru give am permission to form di Tibetan govment-in-exile for di northern Indian hill town of Dharamshala.

Dis na how di Dalai Lama and im followers create a society for di hill town wia Tibetan language, culture, arts and religion dey promoted freely for decades.

How dem dey choose di Dalai Lama?

Tibetan Buddhists believe say dia senior monks dey reincarnated afta death and a dem go choose a Dalai Lama by Buddhist officials if dem dey convinced say di one wey dem dey choose get di soul of im predecessor.

Di current Dalai Lama, di 14th, dey identified as di reincarnation wen e dey two years old.

E bin previously tok say di line of spiritual leaders fit end wit am, but now tok say a successor go dey.

E tok say na di Gaden Phodrang Foundation wey im create for 2015 to maintain and support di Dalai Lama religious duties, go choose im successor.

Di group senior officers, wey include im aides, go carry out di procedures of search and recognition in accordance wit past tradition.

"I go leave clear written instructions about dis. Bear in mind say apart from di reincarnation recognised through such legitimate methods, no recognition or acceptance go dey for a candidate wey dem chose for political ends by anyone, including anyone from di People Republic of China."

Wetin to know about di Tibetan group and wetin di role of Dalai Lama mean to dem

India don host di Dalai Lama since March 1959, wen e run comot from Tibet afta a failed uprising against Chinese rule.

India don house more dan 100,000 Tibetan refugees. But China no really dey support di Tibetan autonomy to avoid diplomatic fallout and tensions wit dia neighbour.

But China don openly defend di Dalai Lama right to kontinue im spiritual activities for India.

For March 2025, 46 Indian MPs sign, a declaration wey hold say di Dalai Lama get exclusive right to choose im successor and reject China interference for di process.

China bin claim di Tibetan territory, and for 950 and afta dem establish di People Republic of China under Communist rule, thousands of People's Liberation Army troops march into Tibet.

As di foremost leader for Tibetan Buddhism, di Dalai Lama dey considered as di living manifestation of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig, di patron saint of Tibet.

Di role of di Dalai Lama dey ancient, dem don get 14 Dalai Lamas since at least di 15th Century.

Tibetan Buddhists believe say wen di Dalai Lama die, im soul go reincarnated for anoda pesin and an elaborate process go follow to identify di successor.

Since 1642, di Dalai Lama dey act as both di political and spiritual leader of Tibetans.

But dis bin change wit di current Dalai Lama, wey chose to give im political leadership duties to a democratically-elected Tibetan government-in-exile.

E still remain an important figurehead, not just as a spiritual leader but also a living symbol of exiled Tibetans' wey dey hope to reclaim dia homeland one day.