When leaders forget their humanity

What the report says

The Observer published a viewpoint piece arguing that political power in Africa has often been damaged by leaders who lose sight of their own humanity. The author reflects on the independence era and the decades that followed, describing student activism, anti-colonial struggle and personal memories from Angola and elsewhere as a backdrop for the article’s central warning.

The essay contrasts leaders who adopted grandiose titles or cults of personality with those who, in the author’s view, remained more restrained. It cites figures such as Kwame Nkrumah, Mobutu Sese Seko, Hastings Banda and Idi Amin as examples of the danger of self-mythologizing, while holding up Vladimir Lenin as someone who rejected being treated as a god. The piece also points to Julius Nyerere, Kenneth Kaunda and Nelson Mandela as examples of leaders who stepped down or avoided personal glorification.

The author’s main argument is that leaders in politics, public service and even professional life should stay open to criticism, accept ordinary limits and remember that authority does not make them immortal. Although the article uses historical examples from across Africa, it is presented as opinion rather than a news report, and The Observer attributes it to an investor, contractor and football enthusiast.