An African Theory of Good Leadership

Abstract

This article draws on the indigenous African intellectual tradition to ground a moral-philosophical theory of leadership that is intended to rival accounts prominent in the East Asian and Western traditions. After providing an interpretation of the characteristically sub-Saharan value of communion, the article advances a philosophical account of a good leader as one who creates, sustains and enriches communal relationships and enables others to do so. The article then applies this account to a variety of topics, including what the final end of an organisation should be, how decisions ought to be made within it, who counts as a stakeholder and how to deal with non-performing or misbehaving employees. For each topic, the article notes respects in which Afro-communal leadership supports approaches that differ from those prescribed by other, more internationally familiar philosophies such as Confucianism and Kantian contract theory, and it suggests that its implications are prima facie attractive relative to them.

Business Ethics in Africa: The Role of Institutional Context, Social Relevance, and Development Challenges

“…Ubuntu, Indaba, and Kgotla. There is now a growing body of literature on African indigenous philosophy and ethics across multiple disciplines, including: business ethics, leadership and organisational behaviour, cross-cultural management and cultural political economy (Metz, 2018;Edozie, 2017;Amaeshi and Idemudia, 2015;West, 2014;Newenham-Kahindi, 2009;Lutz, 2009). Many of these studies seek to provide a theory or framework of management or leadership that is consistent with traditional African values, and well-suited to communal societies.…”

Servant Leadership, Third‐Party Behavior, and Emotional Exhaustion of Followers

“…This research builds a robust theoretical bridge between servant leadership, team conflicts, and emotional exhaustion via leaders' third-party conflict behaviors. The study further builds a connecting bridge between servant leadership and the indigenous African understanding of administration (Metz, 2018). We also respond to a call that researchers explore further on the mediating processes through which servant leadership relate to relevant outcomes (Eva et al, 2019).…”

“…These features include integrating to one's family and community, caring, mutual trust, listening, and mutual respect, forgiveness, building peace, integrity, and common good, oneness, fairness, and interdependence. In line with this assertion, African theorist, Metz (2018), describes the African community based on two core features: first, considering oneself as part of the whole community through sharing, and finally, achieving the common good of all through serving the community. Specifically, Nigerian culture is evident in the African leadership philosophy of Ubuntu-a concept that denotes humanity, especially humanity toward others (a person is a person through the other person).…”

Transforming Leadership: Towards the Advancement of Decolonisation and Social Justice

“…Leadership individuation is two pronged First there is submerged individuality that is unlimited, such as perpetuating the decoloniality and consciously pursuing a prescriptive qualification, through which transformative abilities can be developed because they know what to do, and therefore pursue decolonial leadership development through the practice of Ubuntu, letsema and communion. The second prong refers to allowing transitioning from an Afro-communal ethos to relating communally and allowing others to commune in developing leaders to advance just decolonial leadership (Metz, 2018).…”

“…It is a way of offering one's service for the good of a collective, particularly with an intention to advance a specific course. Communion, however, refers to the notion of being relatable towards improving the 'life-force' and enhancing Ubuntu to define an ethical claim (Metz, 2018). The wellbeing of African people lies in the recognition of their being and putting practices at the centre of all policies and laws regulating education and recognising their communal approach in operations to achieve desired results.…”