Ubuntu – how as Africans do we lead?

Ubuntu establishes harmony in diversity and creativity in communities. Through this, ubuntu is better equipped to deal with ethnic, religious, language and gender differences, complementarities and conflicts rather than by using the "scientific" management approach.

"Africa best illustrates the spirit and existence of ubuntu.

It is the bedrock of the constitution of South Africa. Thanks to ubuntu, South Africa is a beacon of tolerance for divided societies," said Dr. Reuel Khoza, chairman, AKA Capital and chairman of the NEPAD Business Foundation. "From ubuntu, flowed the willingness of former enemies to engage in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) hearings, aiming to heal the wounds of the past. The principle of sufficient consensus is the contribution South Africans have made to the worldwide study and practice of conflict resolution."

Dr. Khoza in his over 30-year career has worked as a psychology lecturer, brand manager, management consultant, change agent in business during the apartheid era and a corporate head and investor in the new South Africa.  African values and beliefs have guided his thoughts and actions.

He added that we should acknowledge that leadership must play a central role in restoring Africa to itself for the purpose of development, growth and prosperity. The self-esteem of most Africans today is low because of the wars, ethnic conflicts, poverty and diseases that afflict it.  He is emphatic that Africa is an instrument of its own salvation; that others may help but Africa must set its own agenda and determine its own destiny.

African Renaissance acknowledges that Africa's people and institutions have the capacity and the responsibility to master their future. It is a formula for mobilizing resources and integrating the efforts of business and government through continent-wide partnerships. This empowers the people to create, foster and maintain a progressive economic, social and political order that will rid Africa off its post-colonial chaos. Skilled financing, capacity building, information exchange, marketing extensions and proper accounting practice will be critical tools for this process. It has to happen: failure to bring it about will ensure the final collapse of many already failing states.

"The true meaning of an African Renaissance is that we shall reinvent ourselves, dipping deep into a sense of our own dignity and historical mission to drive the renewal. In this quest, African leadership – and particularly African business leadership – can help to liberate us economically from widespread poverty and hopelessness. It will create wealth in place of desperation, and engender human worth in place of vacant minds and empty bellies," he added.

“Today, Africans themselves have put governance at the top of the continent's agenda for change and democratic progress. Building capable and accountable African political economies should be no different than building such elsewhere. Unfortunately, a combination of historical misfortunes, prejudice against Africans and sheer mismanagement by Africans themselves has caused critics to disregard Africa as a place where malfeasance is the norm and good governance is beyond our grasp. It is not my purpose to enter into the rights and wrongs of this attitude. It is far more sensible to acknowledge that we have plenty to put right and then set about putting it right.”

By setting objectives for an African Renaissance using the themes of cultural revival, peace and security, democracy and wealth creation, Africa can turn their backs on Afro-pessimism and strike out on the path of Afro-optimism.

Ubuntu can propose to the world that a formula exists for a new and better approach to leadership, based on African principles.