Pessimism and African Leadership

Wafula Okumu analysed what he described as Afro-Pessimism, "...Although I recognize the role the foreigners, particularly Europeans and Americans have played in making Africa one of the poorest places on earth, I fully hold the African leaders accountable. It is tempting, but facile, to generalize that Africa's problems are self-inflicted by vaulting political ambitions of its leaders. However, it is hard not to see Africa's pathetic leadership in the wider context as a reflection of Africa's persistent failure to throw up progressive leaders, not merely colorful visionaries seeking to rewrite history with themselves as central players..."