Political Leadership In Africa Research Articles

Politics, Jokes and Power in Africa: The View From Stand-Up Comedy

ABSTRACT The history of stand-up comedy in Africa has often been tied to developments in popular culture, language, and performance. In this article, I take a different perspective by identifying the interactivities of politics and comedy, and how the actions, endorsements, and even censure of national leaders across different nations buoyed up stand-up performances on the continent. With specific examples from different countries, the explications in this paper show how the (in)actions of political leadership in Africa served as fodder for laughter elicitation – in Kenya, with Daniel arap Moi’s capitulation and Mwai Kibaki’s lethargy; in Nigeria, with Olusegun Obasanjo’s comedian-president posture as well as the gaffes of Patience Jonathan; and in South Africa, with Jacob Zuma’s unending drama until his resignation. These situations are equally contrasted with the experiences in Uganda, Egypt and Rwanda, where political censure is variously rife.

Hope and Despair in Politics: An Analytical Approach to Jack Mapanje’s The Chattering Wagtails of Mikuyu Prison

This paper is a critical analysis of The Chattering Wagtails of Mikuyu Prison, a collection of poems by Jack Mapanje. It aims at demonstrating how new voices in politics are often compelled to silence. It explores the factors that make the hope of the masses dissipate to make room for a great despair in the heart of both the masses and the political opponents and activists who in our case here are writers. To conduct this work, we have based our analysis on new historicism and post-colonial criticism using the qualitative research method. The results of our findings reveal that some people get involved in politics either directly or indirectly with the hope of bringing about changes in the management of their country so as to put it on the path of sustainable development. Unfortunately, the powerholders resort to all the possible means to show resistance through all possible means to silence and discourage them. This state of affairs constitutes a hindrance to a true development and a good political leadership in Africa where powerholders do not tolerate opposition at all.

Political Leadership in Africa: Leaders and Development South of the Sahara By Giovanni Carbone and Alessandro Pellegata, 2020, Cambridge University Press, 386pp, €38.95.

Political Leadership in Africa: Leaders and Development South of the Sahara By Giovanni Carbone and Alessandro Pellegata, 2020, Cambridge University Press, 386pp, €38.95.

Political Leadership in Africa: leaders and development south of the Sahara by Giovanni Carbone & Alessandro Pellegata Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2020. Pp. 386. $99.99 (hbk). – ERRATUM

Political Leadership in Africa: leaders and development south of the Sahara by Giovanni Carbone & Alessandro Pellegata Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2020. Pp. 386. $99.99 (hbk). – ERRATUM

Political Leadership in Africa: leaders and development south of the Sahara by Giovanni Carbone & Alessandro Pellegata Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2020. Pp. 386. $99.99 (hbk).

Political Leadership in Africa: leaders and development south of the Sahara by Giovanni Carbone & Alessandro Pellegata Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2020. Pp. 386. $99.99 (hbk). - Volume 59 Issue 4

Political Leadership in Africa: Leaders and Development South of the Sahara. By Giovanni Carbone and Alessandro Pellegata. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2020. 390p. $99.99 cloth, $34.99 paper. - Political Violence in Kenya: Land, Elections, and Claim-Making. By Kathleen Klaus. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2020. 372p. $120.00 cloth. - Rural Democracy: Elections and Development in Africa. By Robin Harding. Oxford: Oxford

Political Leadership in Africa: Leaders and Development South of the Sahara. By Giovanni Carbone and Alessandro Pellegata. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2020. 390p. 34.99 paper. - Political Violence in Kenya: Land, Elections, and Claim-Making. By Kathleen Klaus. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2020. 372p. $120.00 cloth. - Rural Democracy: Elections and Development in Africa. By Robin Harding. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2020. 192p. $155.00 cloth. - Volume 19 Issue 3

Political Leadership in Africa: Leaders and Development South of the Sahara by Giovanni Carbone and Alessandro Pellegata

Political Leadership in Africa: Leaders and Development South of the Sahara by Giovanni Carbone and Alessandro Pellegata

Challengrs of Political Leadership in Africa : Nigeria's Fourth Republic in Focus

Challengrs of Political Leadership in Africa : Nigeria's Fourth Republic in Focus

Cosmologies of the Sovereign in Chinua Achebe's <em>Anthills of the Savannah</em>

Achebe’s Anthills of the Savannah concentrates on the problem of political leadership in postcolonial Africa like none of his other post-independence novels—A Man of the People or No Longer at Ease. It narrates the abuse of power and the failure of political leadership in a way the others do not and has thus generated criticism along this axis. While some critics have explored the nature of brutality in the novel, others have seen it as essentially tragic from various perspectives. It has also generated concerns about Achebe’s reaction to political leadership in Africa. The formation of a postcolonial nation-state as presented in the novel has been seen as problematic for reasons ranging from the inability of citizens to integrate and forge a common course to the lack of belonging fostered by visionless, selfish leadership. Most of these concerns have been triggered by the question of leadership performance and the idea of the state as failed. This article, however, investigates the processes by which actors—state and non-state—make and remake the state. By so doing, it seeks to achieve three aims: to expand domains of power and oppression beyond state apparatuses, to investigate mechanisms of resistance and agency among the oppressed, and to unveil the relationship between play and power within, but not limited to, the political class. © 2018, Indiana University. All rights reserved.

The First Ladies of Southern Africa: Trophies or Trailblazers?

ABSTRACTNo longer simply trophy wives, First Ladies in Southern Africa in particular, are an increasingly influential political force in the inner circle of presidents and politics. Recent examples of the growing political influence of First Ladies of Southern Africa include Graça Machel and Grace Mugabe. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to analyse the political role, influence and activities of First Ladies in Southern Africa and in particular to contribute to this under-researched area related to political leadership in Africa. From peace missions to summits, First Ladies play a leadership role in the sustainable development and politics of the sub-region. In some instances, however, First Ladies have contributed to the undermining of accountable leadership on the continent. For analytical purposes, the paper addresses the political agenda, role, influence and accountability of selected First Ladies in Southern Africa.

ELECTORAL AUTHORITARIANISM AND DEMOCRATISATION IN AFRICA: THE ROLE OF THE AFRICAN UNION

Political leadership in Africa is changing. Evidence of this can be found in the Arab Spring, democratic elections on the continent and the rejection by the African Union (AU) of undemocratic and unconstitutional regime change on the continent. However, procedural rather than substantive democracies operate on the continent, often entrenching authoritarian regimes through elections. These elections show some signs of democratisation and democratic participation, but result predominantly in the extension of the competitive authoritarian regime.The AU subscribes to universally accepted democratic norms, which are often not realised in member states, or sanctioned by the AU. This tacit approval of electoral authoritarianism requires an investigation into the role, if any, of the AU in entrenching electoral authoritarianism on the continent. Applying Levitsky and Way’s (2002; 2010) analytical framework leads to the conclusion that the AU has exerted leverage over authoritarian presidents and their regimes in all but a few cases. However, the AU is not yet able to advance the democracy project on the continent, as linkages focus predominantly on socio-economic development and infrastructure expansion rather than the promotion of democracy per se.

Monarchical monstrosity in postcolonial literature: a reading of Femi Osofisan’s <i>The Chattering and the Song</i> and <i>Yungba-Yungba and the Dance Contest</i>

This paper is a thematic study of Femi Osofisan’s The Chattering and the Song and Yungba-Yungba and the Dance Contest. Femi Osofisan, in the two plays, exposes the political leadership in Africa as characterized by dictatorship, despotism, tyranny and corruption. The paper provides a theoretical framework where dictatorship is diagnosed and conceptualized. Opinions of scholars are reviewed on dictatorship and the natural dispositions of African rulers to it. From the Marxian perspective, the paper examines the socio- political relevance of the plays to the African society, and Osofisan’s disdain for and rejection of such tyrannical tendencies in African rulers that jeopardize the survival of the downtrodden. Besides, the two plays project the playwright’s vision in arousing the revolutionary consciousness of the masses to revolt against oppression, tyranny and social injustice in the society. They also exhibit Femi Osofisan’s belief in the unity and oneness of the nation. The revolutionary aesthetics of the plays and their dramaturgical essences are also interrogated.

Monarchical monstrosity in postcolonial literature: a reading of Femi Osofisan’s The Chattering and the Song and Yungba-Yungba and the Dance Contest

This paper is a thematic study of Femi Osofisan’s The Chattering and the Song and Yungba-Yungba and the Dance Contest . Femi Osofisan, in the two plays, exposes the political leadership in Africa as characterized by dictatorship, despotism, tyranny and corruption. The paper provides a theoretical framework where dictatorship is diagnosed and conceptualized. Opinions of scholars are reviewed on dictatorship and the natural dispositions of African rulers to it. From the Marxian perspective, the paper examines the socio- political relevance of the plays to the African society, and Osofisan’s disdain for and rejection of such tyrannical tendencies in African rulers that jeopardize the survival of the downtrodden. Besides, the two plays project the playwright’s vision in arousing the revolutionary consciousness of the masses to revolt against oppression, tyranny and social injustice in the society. They also exhibit Femi Osofisan’s belief in the unity and oneness of the nation. The revolutionary aesthetics of the plays and their dramaturgical essences are also interrogated.

Negative statecraft and the Social Worse-offs in the modern African state: Exploring the concept of political utilitarianism for ethical leadership and governance

This work makes two fundamental claims. First, the problem of negative statecraft has persisted in Africa, causing a negatively upward shift in the general curve of poverty as well as what John Rawls calls the social worse-offs on the continent. Preliminary research shows that this problem is usually mainly addressed from the social scientific perspective in Africa. Second, the present work normatively reacts to this implicit challenge, from the social sciences, through an ontologically ethical submission that the problem of negative statecraft is largely reducible to the moral deficit of leadership in Africa. Therefore, the work argues that a constitutional emphasis on political utilitarianism, a derivative from normative utilitarianism, largely addresses the problem. Just as normative utilitarianism reduces the rightness or wrongness of human conduct to the extent and intensity of the good produced or failed to produce, to satisfy the greatest number, political utilitarianism also analyzes the performance or non-performance of political leadership in Africa by the extent and intensity of the good produced, or failed to produce, to benefit the greatest number. Ultimately, this normative turn reinvents ethical leadership and governance, making the political leadership more responsible and responsive to the people in the modern African state.

Leadership Renewal and Succession in Zimbabwean Political Parties: A Critical Analysis of Leadership Succession and Renewal Processes in ZANU-PF and the MDC-T

Political leadership in Africa vary from the “criminalization” of the state to political leadership as “ dispensing patrimony”, the “recycling” of elites and the use of state power and resources to consolidate political and economic power. Political parties just like any other organizations always need leadership renewal and revamping, besides ideological and policy renewal. Zimbabwean politics present a shunned leadership renewal as reflected by the two champion political parties namely ZANU PF and MDC-T. Despite hot political power contestation between MDC and ZANUPF, the parties` internal structures are hinged on the two Godfathers or Father figures that are Mugabe and Tsvangirai. They are the “labels “behind the two political parties. The suppressing of dissent voice on succession and renewal of leadership in the two parties has brew resistance from within and this has resulted in factional fights within the two political parties. The disgruntlement in the political parties has led to the stemming of the ‘bhoramusango concept’ from the electorate and party cadres whereby they are throwing or donating away their votes to other political parties. The ‘bhoramusango’ concept haunted ZANUPF in 2008 leading to its defeat by the opposition MDC-T. The paper takes the form of an analytic approach on leadership crisis in Zimbabwe. The narrative is framed on key concepts of leadership: namely leadership renewal and leadership succession, as agents operating within inherited structures negotiated political settlements, and form structures of leadership. Rulers gave priority to the consolidation of state power by installing party loyalists in the armed forces, civil service and local government. As part of this process, rulers have ensured consolidated power and authority. The present paper analyses this succession challenge in what is widely regarded as one of the most emblematic cases in Africa in general and Zimbabwe in particular. As for this paper, more emphasis will be on leadership renewal and succession as most scholars of comparative politics have been giving much attention to issues of regime change.

Closing the Leadership Lacuna in Africa : Interrogating the Performance of Political Leadership in the Nigerian State

This paper is built on the premise that there is a leadership lacuna in Africa, accentuated by the exit of the legendary Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. The paper uses the performance of political leadership in Nigeria, to examine the scorecard of political leadership in Africa. The specific objectives of the paper were to: (i) examine how the performance of political leadership in Nigeria has created a leadership lacuna in Africa and (ii) make recommendations on how the performance of political leadership in Nigeria can lead to the closing of the leadership lacuna. The methodology for the study is logical argumentation. The theoretical framework is the elite theoretical framework. Findings of the study indicate that the substandard performance of political leadership in Nigeria has negatively impacted on political leadership in Africa. The most populous country in Africa (Nigeria), the paper recommends, must see the emergence of the needed new class of African leaders as a challenge. The Nigerian elite must see this as a national challenge. The paper further recommends in this regard that Nigeria’s government should reform and reequip Nigeria’s educational system. In addition, Nigerians must make democracy work. Democracy in Nigeria, the paper concludes, must crystallize into leadership for results.

Deconstructing intergenerational politics between ‘Young Turks’ and ‘Old Guards’ in Africa: an exploration of the perceptions on leadership and governance in Kenya

Arguably, political leadership in Africa has been characterized as an occupation of the old. This has spurred heightened intergenerational conflicts, which pre-existed the formation of independent nation states. Conflicts over power and leadership among young and older generations were evident, and still are, in many traditional African societies. Such relationships continue within contemporary social, economic and cultural contexts. Aside from ethnicity being at the heart of defining political developments in Kenya, the ‘generation card’ is often invoked in the unfolding of political reform and democratic space. This paper interrogates the emergent relationship between ‘Young Turks’ (those characterized as ‘young’, full of ideas and impatient for change) and ‘Old Guards’ (those believed to be unwilling to change and accept new ideas), and questions its relevance for social, political and economic policy. It reveals how public space in Kenyan polity has been controlled by its older generations, who maintain a firm grip on the country's resources. It concludes by calling for a meaningful intergenerational dialog, where both young and old share ideas on how best to proceed on Kenya's path to social, political and economic development.

Good Governance, Democracy and Leadership styles in Africa

Issues of constitutionalism, good governance and democracy are determined by the type of leadership in a country and/or continent. Despite colonial legacy, leadership in Africa has struggled to promote pro-people policies that accommodate the needs of the populace. Leadership deficiency is a cause for concern in African countries in terms of progressive and visionary leadership. Perspectives on political leadership in Africa vary from the“criminalisation” of the state to political leadership as “dispensing patrimony”, the “recycling “of elites and the use of state power and resources to consolidate political and economic power as stated by Van Wyk (2007) . African states and their leaders have exploited and monopolized internal sovereignty to mean absolute power, persornalisation of state-like services and have monopoly of and over organised violence. This paper attempt to review and analyze the type and styles of political leadership in Africa in an effort to promote democracy and good governance. Leaders play a pivotal role in political agenda setting, the distribution of resources and political actions. The contemporary state in Africa is a remnant of a colonially imposed system. At the time of independence, elites attempted to transform this but only succeeded in entrenching their interests .This paper therefore seeks to unpakage why African countries are no better than they were under colonial rule. Of what value then is the hard won independence that African countries commemorate on a yearly basis? African politicians need to provide good leadership qualities so as to consolidate democracy and good governance

Critical prophecy and political leadership in biblical, African and Islamic worldviews

This article examines the socio-political influence of prophecy in traditional African and the biblical perspectives, in order to challenge contemporary African religious men and women to serve as the conscience of society. There is hardly any doubt that political leaders are usually prone to abuse of their positions and they need to be reprimanded and lampooned. A discussion on Islam is included, because, together with Christianity, it dominates, to a large extent, socio-political and economic leadership in Africa. It is the view of many scholars that neither Christianity nor Islam have been applied sufficiently to political leadership in Africa to have an impact on mass socio-political and economic welfare, although some heroic individual exceptions are noted. The materials were gathered through a literature study. The study is comparative in the sense that it compares prophecy in traditional Africa with what is obtained from the Bible and the church as we know it today. The study recommends critical prophecy in the two dominant Old Testament religions, namely Christianity and Islam, and in African Traditional Religion, for improved political leadership and development in Africa.

African politics and society: a mosaic in transformation

Part I: INTRODUCTION. 1. Understanding African Politics and Society. Part II: HISTORICAL CONTEXT. 2. Politics and Economics of the Precolonial Independence Era (Prior to 1884). 3. Political and Economic Impacts of Colonialism (1884-1951). 4. Nationalism and the Emergence of the Contemporary Independence Era (1951-Present). Part III: SOCIOCULTURAL ENVIRONMENT. 5. Ethnicity and Class. 6. Ideology and the Politics of Development. 7. Politics of the African Novel. Part IV: CONTINUITY AND CHANGE IN GOVERNANCE. 8. State and Civil Society. 9. Military Coups dEtat and Military Governance. 10. Democratic Experiments and Multiparty Politics. Part V: FOREIGN RELATIONS. 11. Foreign Policy Making and the Pursuit of Pan-Africanism. 12. Africa in World Politics. Part VI: RIVAL THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES 13. Study of Africa in the Liberal Tradition. 14. Study of Africa in the Critical Tradition. Appendix 1: List of Acronyms. Appendix 2: Country Name Changes in Africa During the Contemporary Independence Era. Appendix 3: Political Leadership in Africa During the Contemporary Independence Era. Index.