Servant-Leadership Practices of Nelson Mandela, African Culture and a Thriving Future for Africa

This paper examines the African cultural values and the virtues of servant-leadership as impetus of the successful leadership of Nelson Mandela, and how all these can be tapped by other African leaders in order to transition the continent into a more prosperous and promising future. Previously, authors have viewed Africa from the lenses of hopelessness due to its corrupt, self-centered and inept leadership that has led to sluggish economic growth and social disharmony. Yet since time immemorial, the African culture has had no dichotomy between service and leadership, as evidence in some of Africa’s cultural philosophies like ubuntu, which focuses on individuals pursuing collective interests and serving others. Ubuntu played a critical role in shaping the leadership journey of Nelson Mandela. Servant-leadership, on the other hand, which closely matches the principles of ubuntu, is believed to have had an impact on the leadership practices of Nelson Mandela (humility, courage, perseverance, honesty and commitment, and forgiveness and reconciliation). It is argued that the leadership practices of Nelson Mandela, which have largely been informed by both ubuntu and servant-leadership, if adopted and practiced by African leaders are likely to make the continent realize wholistic development. For instance, economic integration can deepen the economic and political links in the continent, investment in education will bring about the much needed innovation and entrepreneurship, improved democratic and governance ideals will slay the giant of corruption, and a vibrant digital transformation will place the continent on a global pedestal.