How to Become a Leader in Africa
Are you tired of seeing Africa’s potential squandered by ineffective leadership? Do you want to uncover the hidden dynamics of leadership in Africa and explore practical strategies for driving change? Join University of York politics lecturer and author Dr Remi Adekoya on How to Become a Leader in Africa where we delve into the logic of everyday leadership across the continent. Through conversations with Africans from all walks of life, we explore the psychology of the leader-follower relationship, perceptions of authority, power, influence, and charisma to understand why certain individuals are perceived as leaders over others in African contexts.
We explore how leadership emerges and is practised not just in politics, but in business, culture as well as the spheres of ideas and morality. What does it take to be seen as a leader by Africans today? What kind of leadership is needed to unleash Africa’s potential? And how can such leadership emerge? Together, let’s unravel this puzzle and figure out how Africa can be led to the greatness and prosperity Africans so strongly desire.
Adekoya has written for The Guardian, Foreign Policy, Foreign Affairs, Politico and Washington Post among others. He has provided sociopolitical commentary for BBC, CNN, Sky News, Al Jazeera and South African Broadcasting Corporation, among others. He is a former columnist for Business Day, a Nigerian daily.
- Update frequency
- every 13 days
- Average duration
- 64 minutes
- Episodes
- 12
- Years Active
- 2025
Leadership in Sierra leone
In this episode, we sit down with Andrew Keili, a former vice-presidential candidate in Sierra Leone and current head of its main power provider who has also been highly successful in his country’s p…
Leadership in Ghana
In this episode, we sit down with the renowned Professor Audrey Gadzekpo - one of Ghana’s leading voices on media, democracy, and gender - for an insightful conversation on leadership in Ghana and be…
Leadership in Cameroon
In this episode’s discussion with one of Cameroon’s leading political scientists and thinkers Professor Tatah Mentan, we dive deep into the rule of 92 year-old Paul Biya, one of Africa’s longest-serv…
Leadership in Nigeria
In this episode, we sit down with Innocent Ogbonna—youth mobilizer, social impact communicator, and values-driven leader—as he shares his journey through politics in a Nigerian university and the for…
Leadership in Liberia
In this episode, we sit down with Dr Ibrahim Nyei, Liberia’s Deputy Foreign Minister for International Cooperation and Economic Integration. He shares his personal experiences growing up in the midst…
Youth, Protest and Everyday Leadership: Lessons from Kenya and beyond with Bettina Ng’weno
In this episode of How to Become a Leader in Africa, we sit down with Bettina Ng’weno — professor, anthropologist, and co-author of the influential book "Developing Global Leaders: Insights from Afri…
Leadership in Africa
“The laws of politics in Nigeria are way different to those in Europe.” Prof. John Godson.
In this eye-opening episode of How to Become a Leader in Africa, Prof. John Godson draws from his unique fir…
Leadership in Africa: Faith, Resistance, and Leadership
Lockett, a scholar, ordained Anglican priest, and former activist in South Africa’s Mass Democratic Movement.
Recruited into the underground structures of the African National Congress (ANC), he worke…
Becoming a leader 3
"Is a Nigerian Governor Really All-Powerful? You Might Be Surprised! 🚨👀"
Many believe Nigerian governors hold absolute power, but what really happens behind the scenes? In this episode, we sit down wi…
Leadership in The Gambia: Power, Legacy & Controversy
Is power ever truly clean? In this episode, we explore leadership in The Gambia through the lens of Yahya Jammeh’s 22-year rule. Some remember him for his contributions to national development, while…
Becoming a Leader 2
What does it really take to become a leader in Africa? 🤔 In this episode, our guest dives deep into the essence of leadership, exploring how political parties function as Egbe—building strong bonds a…
Becoming a leader
Our 1st How to Become a Leader in Africa podcast is with the brilliant Prof Wale Adebanwi, formerly of Oxford University, now University of Pennsylvania.
We explore power and leadership in Africa, di…