A Somalia boy, not so backward, finding top monk (5,4)

I believe the answer is:

dalai lama

'top monk' is the definition.

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for dalai lama that I've seen before include "Tibetan religious leader" , "Tibetan exile" , "Former Tibetan ruler" , "Tibetan Buddhist leader, meaning ocean monk" , "World's Buddhist leader, once ruler of Tibet" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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