Consideration is given to the historical background of the drc in order to find a way of looking at the challenges the country is currently facing in terms of leadership. Africa has an abundance of sound and responsible leaders on all levels and dimensions of society. Many scholars have advanced cogent reasons for this unfortunate reality. Yesterday, today and tomorrow mini thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the. It held its first universal suffrage elections in 1994, after a transition from white minority rule under. Leadership and management studies in subsaharan africa.
My own leadership experience, as well as that of my country, convinces me that the following 10 issues are critical for leadership in africa if the continent is to make greater headway in growth, development, and poverty reduction. The role of african intellectuals in reinventing a new dawn for african renaissance conference paper pdf available october 2017 with 3,170. Leadership in the african context wiley online library. Protea hotel, shakaland, kwazulunatal abstract the role of traditional leaders in modern governance has been the subject for debate in many african countries since independence. Several factors can be attributed to create this type of leadership style. African people were dependent on each other, building on the gifts of vari. Challenges of leadership in africa the sun nigeria. Are distinguished by their large, fastgrowing economies and significant influence on regional and global affairs. Africa may remain a toddler in the comity of nations except the people rise up to the leadership challenge facing the continent. By raymond suttner 24 november 2015 what stood out about nelson mandela was that he repeatedly changed his political understanding. Ellen johnsonsirleaf is the 24th and current president of liberia. Developing transformational leadership for sub saharan.
Pdf good governance, democracy and leadership styles in. The perception is that african leaders rule failed states that have acquired tags such as corruptocracies, chaosocracies or terrorocracies. The african leadership forum alf is africas dedicated space for open and frank discussion about the challenges facing the continent, by the continent. Lack of trained leaders talitwala 1987 underscorts the fact that the church in africa is still very young, in most cases dating back to less than two hundred years but that it has grown very rapidly in recent times. The contemporary state in africa is a remnant of a colonially imposed system. Perspectives on thought leadership for africas renewal edited by kwandiwe merriman kondlo. It is a pretty good thing to see madam ellen johnson sirleaf be ranked among great leaders of africa but i want to differ the position madam sirleaf is placed. The political legacy of the liberation struggle the struggle against colonialism is the bestknown example of political. Therefore, the present study has attempted to answer the research question of whether transformational leadership has a beneficial relationship with subordinate leadership acceptance, job performance. A critical shortage of upcoming leaders is responsible for the underdevelopment of organizations in many african countries ugwuegbu, 2001. This is considered the most common and most publicized leadership model in africa. These leaders are striving to find a happy outlet through which the black continent would be able play a role at the forefront of the world stage. These problems generated by political, social and economic instability and the prevalence of ethnic, communal and religious crises, which have bedeviled africa. Observers of africa lament the failure of the continent to translate the optimism that attended the immediate postindependence period into concrete socioeconomic development bates, 1981.
Africa has also experienced dictatorship in areas of leadership e. A guiding principle of the research is, therefore, to give voice to new ways of thinking by africans about leadership in africa. Traditional leadership and its future role in local governance. The report makes a modest contribution in that regard. Africa doesnt need charity, it needs good leadership world. Africa s failures have come about largely as a result of frequent leadership change, lack of ideology, policy reversal and weak institutional patterns.
The challenges of leadership and governance in africa. We partner with african organizations and government institutions to implement youth leadership programs. It is true that colonialism did not bestow much to africa but the african leadership could not. Africa needs leadership development systems, and it is incumbent on development partners and global leaders to understand how cultural differences affect these. This book seeks to set leadership theory in the african context. Do political leaders matter for development in africa. Barry hart and muhyadin saed analyse how customary law principles and practices. A careful consideration of these elements in the development of subsaharan african leaders allows the removal of causes of poor leadership and a pleasurable enjoyment of effective leadership in the continent.
Examples of this in the political, business and civic areas of life include housing. The paper seeks to analyse the benefits or rather seeks to look at how the political leadership contributes or affect running of public administration. Political leadership crisis in the postcolonial african. Kogi state university, department of philosophy and religious studies amana, o. In general, the transition and consolidation of democratic societies can be expected to promote widespread political and civil liberties, including the right of women to vote and stand for elected office.
Most of the research into what constitutes effective leadership emanates from the united states and is not very useful in an african context. Littrell aut business school auckland university of technology auckland, new zealand. Africa s leadership problem and political instability the african political instability and other related problems is basically a consequence of its leadership problem. Traditional leadership and its future role in local governance sam rugege associate professor.
Mkapa in conjunction with the institute of african leadership for sustainable. The paper also examines the leadership selection process in africa and that the leadership selection process in africa takes. The role of traditional leaders in the promotion of municipal service delivery in south africa by. In africa, leadership was tra ditionally a function to be shared by all villagers or community members, rather than invested in one person. Une chose, on ne comprend pas parfaitement langlais. The role of african intellectuals in reinventing a new dawn for african renaissance. Africas recent population transition may either result in an economic success or a disaster depending on how policies and actions are implemented. Traditional leadership has to function in a manner that embraces democracy and contributes to the entrenchment of a democratic culture, thus enhancing its own status and legitimacy amongst the people. Political leadership and good governance in africa. Leadership is the ability to move a group towards a common goal that would not be. To that end, uncovering exactly why these states lack good leadership is the first logical step if one seriously applies ones cognitive faculties.
To do this i will engage cultures and theologies in dialogue, combine ministry experience with theoretical and theological reflection, and then offer a focus on roles, processes, and approaches that need to be considered for leadership development in africa. It is now at the centre of development concerns that its leaders have been involved in for 50 years. Laissezfaire leadership, also known as delegative leadership, is a type of leadership style in which leaders are handsoff and allow group members to make the decisions. With exception of russia brics members are all developing or newly industrialized countries. This paper therefore, addresses the multidimensional or multifaceted crises of leadership in africa making more references to nigeria, and looking at the issues in a characteristically concerned. In this context, africa has seen its freedom heroes turn into dictators, while plunder of natural resources, politics of exclusion and. Learning leadership development from african cultures. African traditionalindigenous leadership and examines political leadership in particular with the view of ensuring that africa. Leadership in africa university of exeter business school. Womens political leadership in east africa with specific. Thankfully, the conduct of the election was peaceful and the loser, the incumbent president accepted defeat graciously.
In africa, as everywhere else, those political goods are. By raymond suttner 24 november 2015 what stood out about nelson mandela was that he. This book outlines perspectives of emerging and established african scholars on what one could describe as the debate on leadership and the articulation of the life of the mind in africas socioeconomic, political and cultural life from the time of. Africa doesnt need charity, it needs good leadership. Leadership deficiency is a cause for concern in african countries in terms of progressive and visionary leadership. The leadership capacity and ability to create andor sustain politically stable and peaceful states. The new generation of african leaders and development requirements. Leadership africa usa was established to assist african youth in conflictaffected countries to become the next generation of africa leaders. Strengthening traditional leadership roles in south africa, december 2009. There were occasions where this norm was broken through dic tatorship. May 9, 2017 examples from uganda, malawi, rwanda, and tanzania offer lessons of how ethical leadership is central to maintaining public trust in the security sector and ultimately preserving stability and peace. Furthermore, the relationship between politicians and. The nigerian presidential election 2015 has come and gone. This was the beginning of a shift from authoritarian leadership style to transformational leadership style in africa and liberation for women who were completely excluded form leadership roles.
The political leadership in the south african context contributes to the effectiveness of public administration in the country. Political leadership in the transformation of societies. The paper observes that for africa to overcome the crises of leadership and governance in the continent, those on whom the burden of leadership will fall in the future must fully comprehend their responsibilities, duties and obligation. From the foregoing, the characteristics of political leadership are therefore. It is organised by the office of the former president of the united republic of tanzania, h.
Leadership effectiveness, therefore, is an important consideration for the future of african development. Political leaders south of the sahara have taken centre stage since countries in the region gained independence in the 1960s, yet a leadership trap soon emerged with powerholders overstaying in office and chronic instability caused by coups resulting in decades of disappointing developmental performances. Leadership africa usa was officially incorporated as a nonprofit in 2006 to tackle the broad consequences of alienation among african youth. Damian kogi state university, department of mass communication abstract. Various reasons have been adduced to explain this lack of progress, principal among which is the crisis of leadership aseka, 2005. Current leadership challenges in africa the case of the democratic republic of the congo m m tshiyoyo school of public management and administration university of pretoria south africa abstract for decades the democratic republic of the congo drc has been through coups. At domestic level, african governments are run in ways that have been regarded as far from the modern western state systems,osei tutu, 2004 upon which they are. The penury in the midst of plenty that pervade the walls of many african states is a. With the new leadership that is emerging, we hope we will experience leaders who aresensitive to the needs of the people. Leadership in africa the current paper is concerned particularly with leadership in subsaharan africa and so will now turn its attention to.
A comparative analysis political economy of agricultural policy in africa tracking development april 2012. Today, though, the demand for effective leadership and systematic leadership development in africa is growing more rapidly than ever before. Here, we look at the ten greatest african leaders of all time. A joint statement from five research programmes on behalf of africa power and politics programme developmental leadership programme elites, production and poverty. It concludes with a brief reflection on the challenges with which africas political leaders are likely to be confronted with as well as the commensurate challenges.
Revisiting african traditional leadership and setting the agenda for political leadership. Some of them have successfully energized their followers and have made a positive impact in their lives. Leadership development in africa a focus on strengths. Relations congressional research service summary south africa is a multiracial, majority black southern african country of nearly 52 million. Good governance, democracy and leadership styles in africa. Leadership in africa the current paper is concerned particularly with leadership in subsaharan africa and so will now turn its attention to this context. The articles in this issue of the africa peace and conflict journal examine different issues in these three overlapping areas. Political instability in africa where the problem lies and.
Such an approach to leadership and management theory is not only pejorative it also inhibits more constructive theorizing and conceptual development jackson, 2004. This article examines leadership challenges and governance imperatives in the drc focusing on the current leadership issues. Chapter 2 leadership for growth, development, and poverty. The nature and extent of africa s leadership challenge has been explored from multitheoretical perspectives finding that amongst other issues, it is ethical in nature. Africas leaders for life council on foreign relations. The leadership crisis must be brought to an end if postcolonial africa is to successfully advance its sociopolitical and economic agenda. Perspectives on thought leadership for africas renewal. Africa is a continent of extraordinary cultural, geographic, economic and political diversity, featuring largely emerging economies and rapid political, economic and social development. Leaders play a pivotal role in political agenda setting, the distribution of resources and political actions. We conclude by proposing that further research is required on leadership in africa that steps outside dominant methodological and empirical paradigms, and argue that such work holds great potential for generating insights not just relevant to leadership in. We need leaders that will help africa to become innovative. Ebegbulem department of political science university of calabar calabar, nigeria abstract the independence of african states from colonial rule from the middle part of the 20th century signaled strong prospects and hope for a better and prosperous continent. This chapter provides an understanding of leadership in the african context.
Political leaders in africa the web site cannot be found. Researchers have found that this is generally the leadership style that leads to the lowest productivity among group members. Transformational leadership in the south african public. The challenges of leadership and governance in africa hrmars. The existence of traditional leadership and south africas present democratic dispensation are not mutually exclusive. University of the western cape i introduction during the last few years a controversy has raged over the role of tradi tional leaders in governance. A new generation of leaders has to be considered, who are capable of facing up to a number of challenges such as. Finally, analysts view gender quotas as the most certain way to further womens political leadership.
Wisdom from africa on ethical leadership africa center. Leadership development is a key leverage point in the development and transformation of our beautiful continent. The african continent remains at the periphery in world affairs. The function of family imagination omale, simeon achonu, ph. Pdf on jan 1, 2007, joansie van wyk and others published political leaders in africa. Kohls a look at church leadership in africa 109 leadership in africa as it affects the church. It is said of a good leader that when the work is done, the aim fulfilled, the people will say.
Pdf political leadership and good governance in africa. The failure of african leadership, cause of africa. Researchers of this study categorized leadership styles into three main styles of leadership, which helped to organize the observations into more simplified data. This used to be the legislative context pertaining to traditional leadership and institutions in south africa until recently. Some postcolonial leaders in the 1960s and 1970s sought to become president for life, with several managing. African political leadership university of south africa. Subsaharan africa is home to many of the worlds longestruling heads of state. Authoritarian leadership has greatly contributed to the problems with succession in africa as well as an attack on democracy.