Ebben van Zyl (editor and co-writer of the book: “Leadership in the African Context”: 2022 edition)

The world and its people have to adapt to a wide spectrum of challenges and changes. Hereby included amongst others the challenges of the 4th Industrial Revolution and pandemics like the coronavirus.  In addition to the abovementioned, African leaders have to adapt to issues like long-standing poverty and disadvantages, limited education and health infrastructure, cultural diversity within and between countries, and a history of colonisation, which means that people are looking back to blame rather than looking forward to achieving, a great disparity in access to technological innovation and sophisticated communication systems, load shedding (South Africa already experienced about 162 days of loadshedding in 2022), the lack of socially, ethical and environmental correct behaviour and lastly the wide division within societies between the haves and have nots.

The important question is how can leaders in the African context be good and effective leaders? Most of the research into what constitutes effective leadership emanates from the United States and Europe and is not very useful in an African context.  The Western-American worldview of leadership advocates the individual hero, who through his individual independence, confidence and aristocracy saves communities and organisations from their fate. The European worldview places emphasis on rational and scientific thinking. Leaders show experience in the fields of planning and scientific and technical advancements. When looking at the African worldview, however, people and their dignity are of the highest significance. Here the focus is on the collective brotherhood of mankind or ubuntu.  Leaders are focusing on building a spirit of consensus within a group, thus making it less formal than the Western leadership styles.

The book: “Leadership in the African Context” (third edition), seeks to set leadership theory in the African context. It takes into account typical African circumstances, values and beliefs, designed for the development of leaders’ skills and provides practical, real-life examples, reflections, exercises and case studies.  Chapters include the nature and importance of leadership; the difference between leadership and management; the African context; leadership in a multicultural context; self-leadership and leadership development; leadership traits; charismatic and transformational leadership; ethics in leadership; emotional intelligence and leadership; servant leadership; leadership power and influence; team leadership and motivation, entrepreneurial leadership, feminist leadership, leadership and change and lastly, leadership in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Professor Ebben van Zyl (vanzyles@ufs.ac.za)
Emeritus Professor: University of the Free State

Pre-order your copy by emailing cserv@juta.co.za.