Political Sacramental and Leadership Non Performance in Africa: The Synergy

Abstract

Over the years, African leaders have been publicly identified with some actions suggestive of mystic involvements in leadership. While some have claimed and played god, others carry themselves as special creatures on salvafic mission. Thus, often times, various objects serve as political sacramental manifestation of their links to the esoteric which instill pauperizing psychosomatic fears in the minds of the citizenry.  Although these acts boost the courage of the holder and superficially fortify his grip on power, they estrange and mystify leadership just as they serve as forerunners to non performance. From the noble and ancient throne of Haile Salesie to the brutal legacies of Bokassa and Mobutu, etc, the situation has been the same to the detriment of the continent. This paper therefore, examines critically, the role of this miasmic situation in the pauperization and impoverishment of Africans by their leaders. It identifies the relationship between this situation and bad governance and argues within the conceptual benefits of myths and experiences in leadership, the impact of the situation in terms of the linkage between the two realities in the leadership styles in the continent.  It concludes that so long as leadership continues to be mystified in Africa that democracy and its dividends remain a mirage and opts for a simple, demystified effective leadership in democratic Africa.

Keywords: Political Sacramental, Leadership, Mythology, Non Performance, Symbols.