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Africa, known as one of the richest continents, is endowed with an abundance of natural resources, vast expanses of land, numerous lakes, plateaus, plains, rivers, tributaries as well as arid and semi-arid grasslands and a diversity of animals and wildlife.
Yet Africa is the world’s poorest continent. There are numerous reasons for this situation, with the main cause being the weakness of the continent’s leadership. In many African countries, the leadership deficit has hindered socio-economic development, stability and the implementation of strong institutions that could ensure the fulfilment of all citizens’ basic human needs or the creation of a safe climate that empowers communities to contribute to their countries’ development. Within this context, the main objective of this article is to highlight some of the historical factors that have played a major role in undermining Africa’s ability to build strong leadership. An awakening of past values and their inclusion into contemporary leadership development efforts can help Africans build a robust foundation for sustainable, responsible and accountable management and governance at all levels.
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