Political leadership remains one of the most contested issues in postcolonial African governance. Although many African states have adopted democratic institutions, challenges such as corruption, elite domination, weak accountability, and declining public trust continue to raise questions about the nature and purpose of political authority. This article argues that Amílcar Cabral’s conception of political leadership provides an ethical framework for addressing the crisis of public responsibility in contemporary African governance. Through critical philosophical analysis, hermeneutical interpretation, and philosophical reconstruction, the article examines Cabral’s understanding of leadership as a relationship grounded in service, accountability, political education, and commitment to collective transformation. It argues that governance failures in Africa cannot be explained only through institutional weaknesses but must also be examined through the ethical assumptions guiding the exercise of political power. Engaging classical African political thinkers and contemporary scholarship on democracy, governance, and leadership, the article demonstrates that institutions require responsible political actors to function effectively. While acknowledging the importance of constitutionalism, accountability mechanisms, and institutional reform, the article maintains that democratic consolidation also depends on the development of political consciousness among leaders and citizens. It reconstructs Cabral’s leadership ethics for contemporary African societies by proposing a framework based on public responsibility, participatory governance, and accountable political authority. The article concludes that Cabral’s political thought remains relevant because it challenges the understanding of leadership as control over society and instead presents it as a moral obligation toward collective emancipation.
Keywords: African Governance, Amílcar Cabral, Political Leadership, Political Ethics, Postcolonial Democracy, Public Responsibility.
How to Cite
APA
Justina, O. I. (2026). Amílcar Cabral and the Ethics of Political Leadership: Reconstructing Public Responsibility in Postcolonial Africa. British Journal of Advanced Research, 1(3). https://doi.org/10.68263/BJAR-PWPEGE49
MLA
Justina, Okafor Ifeoma. "Amílcar Cabral and the Ethics of Political Leadership: Reconstructing Public Responsibility in Postcolonial Africa." British Journal of Advanced Research, vol. 1, no. 3, 2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.68263/BJAR-PWPEGE49
Chicago
Justina, Okafor Ifeoma. "Amílcar Cabral and the Ethics of Political Leadership: Reconstructing Public Responsibility in Postcolonial Africa." British Journal of Advanced Research 1, no. 3 (2026). https://doi.org/10.68263/BJAR-PWPEGE49
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