How Indigenous Leadership Research in Africa Can Inspire National Prosperity

Abstract

This paper challenges leaders involved in governance, politics, academia, industry and leadership training to access the Afrocentric leadership advantage to unlock the wisdom and benefits of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) across the continent. The authors conducted a review of recent published literature by African leadership scholars that authenticate indigenous leadership thought in the face of historic, colonial and imperial Eurocentric western theory. The authors re-position indigenous leadership research as a critical center-piece and last-mile strategy to achieve pragmatic national transformation. The authors argue that hegemonic Eurocentric leadership models serve to satisfy global, financial and economic capital gains metrics, but do not always serve the social wellbeing and transformative growth interests of local communities. The paper urges policy makers, leadership program developers and business innovators to access and incorporate the findings of Indigenous Leadership Research in Africa (ILRA) to inspire national development and prosperity over the next 200 years.