Volume 4, Number 1

After many years of struggle, African peoples obtained political independence from their colonial masters. This brought optimism about the continent’s future. However, many African leaders once they had tasted power were reluctant to relinquish it and did all they could to remain in office. A new crop of African leaders vowed to stop this practice, but did the same thing once they came to power. This article contextualises African leaders’ avarice regarding power by discussing both exogenous and endogenous factors that have sustained this detrimental practice to date.

Keywords: Power; Leadership; Colonialism; Independence