Slave Mentality: The Bane of Development in Africa

Abstract

This paper conceptualizes slave mentality as an attitudinal disposition characterized by general vulnerability to external influence by things or people, dependence, and lack of intrinsic motivation. It identified power, wealth, and foreign allure and cosset as the major attitude values among African leaders. It viewed development as a universal concept with milieu relativity, and by using the cognitive behavioural paradigm, explains the relationship between this attitudinal disposition and under development in Africa. It concludes that Africa can only develop if and only if her leaders are healed of this mentality.

Key Words: Slave; Mentality; Attitude; Development, Foreign Allure, African Leaders