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I RESTORING the TRADITIONAL QUALITY of AFRICAN RESTORING THE TRADITIONAL QUALITY OF AFRICAN LEADERSHIP: PERSPECTIVES FROM THE DIASPORA A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Leadership & Change Antioch University In partial fulfillment for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY by Daniel Kyei-Poakwa ORCID Scholar No. 0000-00015226-0283 May 2021 i RESTORING THE TRADITIONAL QUALITY OF AFRICAN LEADERSHIP: PERSPECTIVES FROM THE DIASPORA This dissertation by Daniel Kyei-Poakwa has been approved by the committee members signed below who recommend that it be accepted by the faculty of the Graduate School of Leadership and Change, Antioch University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Dissertation Committee: LiZe Booysen, DBL, Chairperson Laura Morgan Roberts, PhD Richard Lobban, PhD ii Copyright © 2020 by Daniel Kyei-Poakwa All Rights Reserved iii ABSTRACT RESTORING THE TRADITIONAL QUALITY OF AFRICAN LEADERSHIP: PERSPECTIVES FROM THE DIASPORA Daniel Kyei-Poakwa Graduate School of Leadership & Change Antioch University Yellow Springs, Ohio There is a widely held and mainly fair view that Africa’s contemporary leadership is deeply flawed. Reform is needed and this dissertation takes the position that the challenges to and desirable characteristics of leadership are understood and can be influenced by Africans living in the Diaspora. To explore the challenges and possible solutions, four focus groups were convened drawing on Diasporic Africans living in Rhode Island in the United States. Each group meeting was facilitated by the researcher and discussed several questions about the most needed changes in leadership in Africa today. These concerned the most desirable characteristics in political leadership in Africa and how Diasporic African leaders can support leadership improvement in Africa. All group discussions began with consideration of the philosophy and relevance of Ubuntu a tradition-based perspective that has re-emerged through Africa in the last 30 years. Groups discussed how leadership renewal and improvement related to reviving practices based on Ubuntu. Transcripts from these sessions were analyzed for the number of mentions of particular ideas. Results were condensed into clusters of related ideas and themes for purposes of discussion. The top responses to the first question about challenges were about incompetence; corruption; and the exclusion of good leaders and officials because of sexism, tribalism, and nepotism. The leading responses to the second question on desirable leadership characteristics emphasiZed honesty, personal qualities of leaders, achieving visionary leadership, and enacting democratic values. In response to the third question of involving the Diaspora, a diverse range of ways in which help would be given were enumerated. This work concludes with a synthesis of the perspectives of Diasporic Africans on how to restore sound leadership in home countries. iv This dissertation is available in open access at AURA: Antioch University Repository and Archive, http://aura.antioch.edu/ and OhioLINK ETD Center, https://etd.ohiolink.edu/etd Keywords: Ubuntu, Leadership, Focus Groups, Diaspora, Corruption v Dedication I dedicate this work to legacy of my deceased dad, my children, and my grandchildren and those who will follow, as well as the community of learners of African Political Leadership reforms. I am because we are. vi Acknowledgements First, I am thankful to God for His strength, wisdom, and mercies to pursue and successfully complete this doctoral program. His grace indeed has been sufficient for me. Many people have had a hand in the completion of this work, and I can say with humility and gratitude that this was indeed a joint effort, a true epitome of “I am because we are.” Notwithstanding, I take full responsibility for the scholarship presented here. I acknowledge the legacy of my deceased dad, the late Albert Kyei-Poakwa, who believed in education as a catalyst to progress in life and therefore made great sacrifices to give his children the best opportunities for education. His efforts have been an impetus of my inspiration on my academic journey. Not forgetting the prayers and support of my 85-year-old living mother, Lady Betty Kyei-Poakwa, that her children will succeed in all their endeavors. I especially thank my wife and children, particularly my first-born, Albert, who provided the technological support for my doctoral work. I am committed to helping him reach the pinnacle of his career. Special thanks go to my dissertation chair, Dr. LiZe Booysen for her sound guidance and tutelage throughout this project. I am very grateful to Dr. Laura Morgan Roberts—member of my committee, first as my advisor and first chair, for her invaluable input before taking up her appointment at the University of Virginia. I am also thankful to Dr. Richard Lobban for his priceless contribution to my work as my mentor for the ILA and as part of my committee. I wish to thank the entire faculty and staff of the Antioch Leadership and Change Program for the great role they all played in my doctoral accomplishments. I am grateful to my cohort group C12 for accepting me as a part of the learning community. I met several wonderful people from whom I acquired information quintessential to vii my academic endeavors. Thanks to Antioch for bringing such a wonderful group my way. I have also benefitted from the kindness of members of other cohort groups. I owe a debt of gratitude to my research team consisting of Alicine Francois, Tayina Jolicoeur, and Dr. Anita Defoe for the great support afforded me when I needed it most. Furthermore, I am grateful to the 35 participants in my four focus groups for the investment of their time, talents, and ingenious creativity demonstrated during the focus group discussions. You shall always remain anonymous—except in my grateful recollection. Finally, I am thankful to my competent and creative editor Dr. Norman Dale, an angel sent from heaven to hold my hands to the finish line. May God richly bless you all. viii Table of Contents Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... iv Dedication ...................................................................................................................................... vi Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................... vii Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................... ix List of Tables ................................................................................................................................ xii List of Figures .............................................................................................................................. xiii Chapter I: Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1 Background of Study .................................................................................................................. 1 Statement of the Problem ............................................................................................................ 3 The Diaspora ............................................................................................................................... 4 Recent Positive Changes in African Leadership ......................................................................... 6 Exploring the Diaspora’s Perspectives on African Leadership ................................................ 11 Research Questions ................................................................................................................... 12 The Purpose and Significance of the Study .............................................................................. 12 Methodology for the Study ....................................................................................................... 14 Limitations of the Study ........................................................................................................... 15 My Positionality ........................................................................................................................ 16 Outline of Dissertation Chapters ............................................................................................... 17 Chapter II : Literature Review ...................................................................................................... 19 Overview of This Chapter ......................................................................................................... 20 Africa as the Dark Continent .................................................................................................... 22 African Leaders as Malevolent and Corrupt ............................................................................. 27 (Re)Turning to Ubuntu? ............................................................................................................ 29 The African Diaspora and Its Role ........................................................................................... 34 Chapter III: Research Methodology .............................................................................................. 39 Choice of Focus Group Discussion as Data Gathering Approach ...........................................
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