Constructions of Indigenous African Leadership: A social, anthropological and discursive exploration of two regions Joseph Ebot Eyong Thesis submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy The University of Leeds Leeds University Business School Leeds University Centre for Interdisciplinary Leadership Studies (LUCILE) June, 2015 Page 1 of 267 The candidate confirms that the work submitted is his/her own and that appropriate credit has been given where reference has been made to the work of others. This copy has been supplied on the understanding that it is copyright material and that no quotation from the thesis may be published without proper acknowledgement 2015 The University of Leeds and Joseph Ebot Eyong The right of Joseph Ebot Eyong to be identified as Author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 Page 2 of 267 Dedication In recognition of the enormous sacrifice of my family I dedicate this project to my children: Liz, Ed and Clinton and to my dear wife Patricia. You have endured so much and paid the price of long absences, financial constraints, and the many innumerable difficulties we faced throughout the duration of this PhD research. You felt the pain the most, the prize is yours. Acknowledgements This doctoral journey has been by no means a strictly personal affair. Rather, it has been the result of contributions from a wide range of people related to the project or to myself in one way or the other. From the onset I was very fortunate to fall in the hands of extremely good people and leading voices in the field of leadership and management. I really feel so humbled yet proud to have crossed paths with such specially gifted and accomplished academics. These individuals are indeed the true heroes of this project as their work and effort have been the real source my own intellectual moulding. Without their dedication and professionalism, this project would be nowhere closer to this presentation. Their knowledge, humanity and professionalism is marvelling and has been impactful in informing my own thinking in very significant ways. Whilst many academics contributed to the moulding process, the one person who has been central to the evolution of this endeavour has been my supervisor Professor Jackie Ford. With her we travelled across two great Universities in the UK beginning from the University of Bradford and finishing at the University of Leeds. I could not say in words how much I learnt from what myself and a few other research students who have passed through her tutelage have come to qualify the best supervisor you can ever wish for. In this respect, I am profoundly grateful for all her encouragement, motivation, advice, direction and total support throughout the four year of this project. I want to single out the epic support that enabled me attend the last Academy of Management (AoM) Conference in Philadelphia in 2014. Words alone could not possibly express the quantum of gratitude I feel inside. For all the one word I have is to say thank you and thank you very much. God bless you. Page 3 of 267 I would also like to thank the following academics who supported the learning process at different stages of the research: . Prof Richard Bolden of the University of the West of England . McDermott O’Leary of the University of Lancaster at the proposal stages. Dr Caren Abongo for encouragement to undertake a PhD . Lawrence Mukete Ngoe for advising to seek admission at Bradford and assisting with proposal upgrade . Associate Professor Caroline Atkinson presently at Manchester Metropolitan University at the initial stages of the PhD at the University of Bradford . Mr Ian Fouweather University of Bradford graduate school for supervising the dissertation for the ESRC MRes Programme. Dr Gail Clarkson at the University of Leeds for support and guidance during the transfer phase through to fieldwork in Africa. Prof Ann Cunliffe and Dr Malcolm Chapman both transfer panel members at the University of Leeds for helping to shape the philosophical path of the study. Prof Osam Temple of the American International University of Nigeria for reading and evaluating the work with an African eye and advising at the closing stages of the research. Prof Nelson Enonchong and Wife Dr. Laura Enonchong for their endless encouragement and direction all through the four years of the thesis research. I must also note that through this doctoral journey I have also met and made many friends from different countries and backgrounds. With these friends we have engaged in the social process of knowledge exploration. We have puzzled over the nature of phenomena, dreamt of worlds that will never exist and created in our own little way visions for future reflection in the ubiquitous and endless quest for knowledge. In all it has been an amazing feeling to have been a part of what was a friendly and vibrant academic culture at graduate school both at the University of Bradford and at the University of Leeds where this journey came to its end. To these friends I extend my best appreciation. Further, I wish to thank all the fieldworkers involved in the research in Nigeria and Cameroon including: Vivian Muma, Agnes Tabe and Stanley Efim and Kenneth Fubu Page 4 of 267 for their help in negotiating access, organising lodging and transportation and other multiple functions they undertook during fieldwork. Also, I present here my sincere thanks and appreciation to the Fons of Akum, Wum, Weh and Essu communities and the Ntumfan of Ekimaya – Etung for their multiple contributions both as participations and in some cases as facilitators. Further, appreciations to Chief John Orock Mbi of Okoyong village and the Okoyong village traditional council for enabling access into local village proceeding and a great historical account of Ayuketayak clan. Additionally to the Local Government Council Chairmen/vice chairmen and HRM managers of the councils of Mamfe, Eyumojock, Etung, Ikom, Takum, Ussa, and Wum as well as all heads of the traditional councils for their support during fieldwork. Additionally, thanks to hotel staff: John at ‘First born’ Port Harcourt and Teddy of ‘Sun Down’ Takum (Nigeria). Further thanks to Franklin at ‘Eden Garden’, Wum and Terence at the Heritage inn Mamfe (Cameroon) for all the love and support. Furthermore, I would like to extend appreciation to my siblings Peter, Augustine, Moses and Alice (Eyong), and Robert, Frida, Ndiep, Cecila, and Solomon (Abunaw). Special thanks to Alice Beghor in particular for looking after the children in Bristol whilst I was away at Bradford for graduate school. Finally, I cannot leave without saying a big thank you to our family friends Martha Manyi, Bella Bih and wife Tricia Ebot-Agbor for helping with part-transcription of the oral data. Also, many thanks to Mr Maxwell Mbi Ebai of IRAD Ekona Cameroon for accepting to stand as contact person in Cameroon and assisting with initial recommendations. Furthermore, I write here a thank you message to Solidarity and Empowerment Club Bristol, UK for periodic loans without which this project would not have been possible. Also, thanks to Besongabang General Association UK for constant support, encouragement and understanding in my role as President and Chief of the community during this study. With a deep regret and grief I extend appreciation to papa and mama Terietstap of Ommen for their motivation. I observe here a minute of silence in honour of papa Gerrit Terietstap who was called to the Lord and could not live to see the fruit of this labour. This list could definitely continue with many more names which I am unable to state here due to space limitation. To all those persons whose names I cannot mention here, I say hanks you a million. Page 5 of 267 Abstract This thesis deploys a transdisciplinary approach that complementarily combines organisational and social anthropological research lenses to explore constructions of indigenous African leadership with a focus in two regions in west and central Africa. The thesis engages with the complex social construction processes of leadership within an indigenous African cultural and traditional council institution and within the more formal local government councils. Empirical data was generated through unstructured interviewing, group discussion, and fieldnotes of lived experience and daily interaction with the local people. Empirical evidence uncovered the prevalence of conviviality, humanity, community inter-dependence and spirituality as the dominant and underpinning characteristics in the discourse and practice of leadership within indigenous cultural and traditional councils. The research uncovers a firm assumption of ancestral and godly intervention in leadership practices based on hegemonic historical belief systems encoded in historical mythologies and stories. These cultural hegemonies are replicated in cultic rituals, sacrificial repertoires and convivially celebrated in folklore. Furthermore, meanings and understandings of leadership are known, encapsulated and portrayed by from the natural ecology with trees, animals and ornaments emerging as embodiments of leadership. Additionally, there is a strong assumption that leadership is virtually enabled and directed by non- human forces such as ancestors and gods, giving rise to the dominance of the notion of leadership as metaphysical and transcendental. Within the more formal local government councils a complex cohabitation and interweaving of the local socio-cultural and traditional perceptions of leadership and Western ideology and practices is evident. The unfolding practice and narrative evolve an esplanade of constant confrontation, multifarious tension and emerging challenge between both influences. This leads to a dramaturgical concomitancy of hybridity, mutation and multiple configurations of approaches and practices influenced by a range factors. The thesis contributes knowledge into the areas of: African leadership Studies (ALS), critical leadership studies (CLS) and leadership studies more generally.