I too have heard of elders younger than that. Calling someone an elder that is youthful, is a contradiction in terms. Most likely, just a favour from someone in the little club, to give their little man some status and a leg up in the world.
Elder, anyways, is just a name to cloak what they really are, and that is judges. Any idea how many years of studying and practise of law to actually become a real judge.
That'll be the day I will take any council, advise or judgements from some guy who just finished high school. Enlighten me oh worthy one, of the grand pecking order! May I shine your shoes?
Dynasties of the past and a few dictatorships today, still have the old, "he's in the family so lets make him king mentality." Raul Castro is a perfect example. So is the late Suharto's son, Bambang in Indonesia. Who's the " Boy king Tut" of your hall? Where's the middle finger emoticon, when you need it?