Africa Study Bible Sampler - Flipbook - Page 86
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LEADERSHIP IN AFRICA
O
ur society today cries for inspiring and
God-honouring leadership. Families, businesses, churches, ministries, civic organizations,
and other institutions need leaders. These groups
search for people who have the ability to guide
them, the character they can trust, and the worthy
ideas they can pursue and share with others. Such
leaders have a compelling vision that motivates
their followers. They have clearly defined goals
and plans that help the group move towards making the vision a reality. They also have an ability
to communicate that will help their followers
focus on the vision and avoid confusion. Africa
needs this kind of leader in order to stimulate the
continent’s growing population and inspire hope
that will set it on a path to achieve such a vision.
Most leaders in Africa today pattern their leader
ship style after the precolonial ruler or “king.” In
that era, the leader (king) was both a social and
spiritual figure. He represented his people and
insured their unity, stability, and security. He was
a link to his people’s ancestry and guided them in
their pursuit of keeping their own tradition.
Because people saw the king as the representative of their group, they took pride by making sure
the king was cared for, so as a result he became
rich. This was a mutually beneficial relationship in
which the people provided for the king and he, in
turn, saw that the needs of all were met, especially
those of any hungry people coming to the palace. Though apparently autocratic, the traditional
leader was well organized with good ways for him
to listen to his people’s thoughts and concerns.
Ministers or territorial administrators surrounded
the king and formed his leadership council.
As in other parts of the world, such “divine rights
of kings,” in which the king saw himself as the voice
of God and being above the law could lead to the
oppression of the king’s subjects. He might lead for
his own benefit rather than the good of his subjects.
He might treat them brutally and seize whatever
he wanted. This is how injustices developed, and
anyone who did not obey was treated harshly.
The traditional society that a king led was more
homogenous, or similar, to societies today. They
were held together by blood relationships and a
common ancestry. People shared assumptions
about the roles of leaders and followers. They
shared common cultural values. As in the Old
Testament, leadership positions were held for
life. Leaders chose their successors, usually from
among their sons.
Leadership Relationships Have Changed
However, leaders in modern Africa guide a varied society, one in which cultural values and
ways of acting are not shared. We find a separation of traditional and civil administrations,
of spiritual and political systems, and of public and private sectors. A democracy in which
each individual has a vote does not allow for
the autocratic power of a king to continue ruling. When modern leaders govern with the assumptions of precolonial leaders, the results
are likely to be a problem because the societies
are not the same.
For example, in a precolonial society, the
people were proud to make their king wealthy.
Today, the motivation for a leader’s wealth is the
leader’s greed and a quest to achieve symbols
of status as a “big man.” This has led to abuses,
corruption, and the exploitation of those being
served. By so doing, many leaders have failed to
show compassion and love for their followers.
They act as wolves rather than caregivers.
Also, the desire for many to hold leadership
positions for life in an age of constant change has
led churches, civic organizations, and states into
major crises and even wars. Many leaders have
turned out to be insensitive, distant, self-centred,
and self-seeking. Too often leaders today have
not seen their role as blessing and caring for their
followers. Too often the so-called leaders attempt
to appear like traditional leaders (kings) without
having the support or relationships on which
such a form of leadership was based.
This crisis of leadership points to the need for
new patterns of leadership in Africa. The Bible
has two pictures of what a leader should be: a
shepherd and a servant. Such leadership is exemplified by Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd (John
10:1-10; Psalm 23) and the one who “took the
humble position of a slave” (Philippians 2:7). This
is leadership that is inspiring, God-honouring,
and encouraging to those being led. Let us explore this kind of leadership.
The Leader as Shepherd
Shepherding is one of the metaphors used in
Scripture to describe God’s guidance of his
people (Psalm 23:1; 78:52-53). The life and serv
ice of shepherd leaders such as David, Moses,
and Amos can provide helpful insights into effective leadership for Africa. A shepherd’s primary
aim is to guide the flock to the green pasture and