The Mandela Washington Fellowship is a flagship program of the U.S. department of state to support young African leaders. The program includes Entrepreneurship and Public Administration tracks, and the Staley School hosts an annual Civic Leadership Institute.
The Fellows come from diverse backgrounds and are doing incredible work to impact lives and transform their communities. In this blog, former Fellow Elizabeth Chunda analyses the employing of new leadership models and styles in advancing the pan-African agenda. She explores ways in which young leaders are advancing pan-Africanism in comparison to generations that have come before them.
Pan-Africanism, which started in the 19th century, is now becoming overly pronounced and appreciated. Pan-Africanism now in modern times differs from Pan-Africanism when it first started, but it still has the same goal: to unify Africa, to bring unity amongst Black people, and to enrich the continent with development. Modern Pan-Africanism has continued to promote solidarity amongst Africans and Black people in general.
Leaders in previous generations were leading the transition and progression of the continent. Their aim was to fight racism, inequality, and colonialism, but they were caught in Neo-colonialism or greed and corruption. Leading then was challenging because of the obstacles in their way; for instance, the previous generations did not have the civic platforms or freedoms of participation compared to the young leaders today. The difference in leadership now and leadership then can be seen in the number of young leaders that are leading. Many young people’s voices are being heard; they are standing up for what they believe in and standing up for what they want for their futures. They are more attached to defending their African heritage and identity, and most of these young leaders are not even aware that they are pushing forward the Pan-African Agenda. Ifor (2016) explained that this movement is not only limited to political development but also individual leadership development and this kind of development undoubtedly will project the continent to first world status.
Leaders in Africa are gaining momentum. Africa has leaders rising up with movements, arts, enterprises and organisations looking to develop their continent. Leadership will take different forms depending on different cultures, but Pan-Africanism seeks to create oneness and solidarity and patriotism towards the continent. Today, leaders are leaders today, whilst yesterday’s leaders had aimed at being leaders tomorrow. Young leaders have the Pan-African movement mantle in their hands now, and they are driving it with their leadership. As the world’s youngest continent, according to the United Nations World Population Prospects 2022, Sub Saharan Africa will account for most of the worlds population, Africa has the youngest population in the world. Such a high number of young people is an opportunity for the continent’s growth.
Young leaders are developing new leadership skills, driving Africa out of its alleged mess or shame. They are showcasing Africa in their own narrative, a positive narrative and with a force. Leading in such a way that shows the power of Africa, that it is a capable continent, and that it has so much potential. Although this is a platform that the previous generations enabled, young leaders today are now using several methods of unity and patriotism to define the continent. Gone are the days when Africans would be embarrassed to be African or Black. Now, the young leaders are showcasing their unique qualities; they are leading with pride and showcasing their intelligence and skills. Many are not even aware of this advancement because they have it embedded deeply in them by the generations that came before them.
The leaders today are repossessing their continent one step at a time, one leadership position at a time, taking up major leadership positions, and also standing up for progressive leadership by voting, advocating, blogging etc. Many platforms have been created for young leaders to interact, ranging from social media, academia, trade, religion to traveling across Africa for Indabas, conferences, or seminars all in the hope of unity of Africans. Many leaders are coming up with their own African strategies to develop their minds and to solve their problems without depending on outside help.
However, there is no denying that in a global world like the one we live in, diversity is embraced by modern leadership skills. Learning new modern cultures of leadership is not intended to replace the traditional ones such as the ones where elders can only be leaders, or only those in chosen bloodlines can be leaders. Working with the older generation can prove to be challenging in these times because they consider young people’s leadership to be illegitimate. It is a challenge for leaders today to embrace new leadership skills or try other methods of leadership different from their forefathers because it is hard to embed traditions and cultures in the new styles of leadership. Leaders need to strive to make a difference in this area. Part of the aim of the Pan-African movement was also to preserve the continent’s culture and identity, and the young generation seems to be doing so. The modern leader leads in a global world and leads with the new leadership trends.
The young African leaders, as evident above, have contributed widely to the increase of Pan-Africanism. This has given Africa a new and better identity and feeling of belonging that Africans had not felt at the beginning of Pan-Africanism as a movement, which was the reason to start the movement. Now, the goals of Pan-Africanism and more are coming to fruition.
References
Ifor, P (2016) “Pan Africanism, Leadership Prospect and the Agenda 2063”. Young African Leaders Journal of Development: vol 1, article 4. DOI:10.32727/24.2018.4
About the author
Elizabeth Chunda is an MA student in the African and African American Studies program at the University of Kansas. She participated in the Mandela Washington fellowship at Kansas State University. She is an award-winning teacher specializing in Civic Education and English. She is passionate about community development and enhancing access to quality education in rural and remote areas in Zambia.
