Epilogue

Abstract

The epilogue summarized the contents of the book's chapters, which showed that leadership would be effective in Africa when it is situated in African countries' context, history, and values. It showed that Africa had a life and history before the arrival of the colonial masters, that leaders crafted a path to progress and development, recognized the imperfection in the system, and created an environment that favored innovation and creativity of their people. The leaders used this to progress the governance structures and their plans toward perfection. Leaders in the precolonial era demonstrated a growth/external mindset that saw leadership as a call to service and to develop people for productivity. The colonial masters did not come for a symbiotic relationship to build their nations and Africa. They came to exploit Africa based on the motives they had. They maneuvered their way but encountered resistance. They worked to identify surrogates, equipped them, and used them to marginalize the other leaders. When they left, Africa was left underdeveloped. Some postcolonial leaders again put their nations on the development path by linking the past with the present. Others did not do this because their fixed/internal mindset emphasized personal and narrow group interests instead of the national common good. In the end, African leaders should take full responsibility for what happened to their nations and how to salvage it. Africa helped the colonial masters to underdevelop Africa, and we can also drive the development progress.

Citation

Amah, O.E. (2023), "Epilogue", Amah, O.E. (Ed.) Resolving the African Leadership Challenge, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 151-164. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80262-677-320231032