New, Young, Leaders for Africa
In the words of the great West African poet, David Diop, I address you;
Africa my Africa, Africa of proud warriors in ancestral Savannahs, Africa of whom my grandmother sings, On the banks of the distant river, I have never known you, But your blood flows in my veins…
Today I speak to you in the same spirit from the heart. For the past five days we have spoken to you as trainers, today we speak as mentors.
On our first day we were introduced to leadership as a cake that we needed to bake. The deputy director of AWARD challenged us, as trainers, to procure and secure all the essential ingredients to brew and deliver a cake of New, Young, Leaders for Africa. On that day we tackled the complex subject of self-leadership, ubuntu along with gender and its many perspectives. But we learned something that day; that science has an African interpretation and is not a western concept.
By exploring the parameters and boundaries of culture, we learned that respect may be earned, but if it is accorded, it yields collaboration and opens doors to trust, teamwork, empathy and sustainable relationships. This is African wisdom in its purest form.
We went on to learn how to isolate facts from feelings and values in conversations in order to give wise counsel and act with integrity instead of listening and acting on gossip. We can now venture to give constructive feedback to even the most difficult colleagues who demean our better judgement. Nonetheless, as a leader do not give your enemies an opportunity to impale you on the wall of social media for things you should NOT have said or done - the internet never forgets!
You impressed us with your enthusiasm to understand the relationship between leadership and emotional intelligence. You grasped the importance of managing your limited time on earth. Time is no respecter of persons. You will sow what you reap. Assertiveness, conflict management skills and presenting yourself well, will help you navigate the corridors of promotion. These will also help you maintain professional working relationships with your supervisors and colleagues in the workplace. The understanding of the dynamics teamwork will empower you to play a crucial role in facilitating your personal and organisation success.
However, as you go home you will face your colleagues, friends and bosses who will not appreciate your new ideas. You will be tempted to think this training was a waste of time. But, you must remember you now have the power to articulate the difference between good and destructive leadership. In humility you will treat them with empathy and show them the better way. You will need to serve and perhaps make sacrifices for the greater good. In doing so, you will make us proud and repay us one hundred-fold for our time together here.
Finally, as new and young African leaders, you will face many different challenges on your leadership journeys. Let me mention just three;
- First; you will face the challenge of handling POWER. Many leaders fail this test and instead of using power to support, build, empower and encourage others, they use it to crush their real or imagined enemies. Rather than celebrate differences and diversity in others, they use power to intimidate their opponents, dismiss other people’s views and force their own way in everything. You must not do this.
- Second; you will face the challenge of handling AUTHORITY. Do not use authority to oppress or bully those you work with. Learn to delegate tasks and trust others, particularly professionals, to do the tasks that you have assigned to them. You are not an expert in everything, neither can you do everything without others.
- Third; you will face the challenge of NOT learning from HISTORY. New and young leaders, often believe they have the answers to all of today’s problems. Do not dismiss the transformational lessons of history or throw away institutional memory. If you do not learn from HISTORY you are bound to repeat the mistakes of the past. Use history to leverage your future success.
As trainers, we have given you 100% for engagement, 100 % for doing your homework and 100% for participation, but only you can confirm your personal transformation.
And now, my New, Young, Fellow African Leaders, we wish you well and many great victories on your individual leadership journeys. God bless Africa, God Bless AWARD and God Bless you all.
With these words Madame Director, it is our great privilege and honor to present to you a carefully baked international leadership cake of New, Young, Leaders for Africa!
Allan Bukusi
Africa my Africa
Africa of proud warriors in ancestral Savannahs
Africa of whom my grandmother sings
On the banks of the distant river
I have never known you
But your blood flows in my veins
Your beautiful black blood that irrigates the fields
The blood of your sweat
The sweat of your work
The work of your slavery
Africa, tell me Africa
Is this your back that is bent
This back that breaks under the weight of humiliation
This back trembling with red scars
And saying yes to the whip under the midday sun?
But a grave voice answers me
Impetuous child that tree, young and strong
That tree over there
Splendidly alone amidst white and faded flowers
That is your Africa springing up anew
springing up patiently, obstinately
Whose fruit bit by bit acquires
The bitter taste of liberty.
David Diop (1960)
