Introduction to the thesis

267 Pages·2015·2.34 MB·English

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

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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

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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.
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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
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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.
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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. In particular it advances the non-human dimension, unearths
the rituals and symbols and unravels the prevailing metaphysical and transcendental
thinking in the discourse and practice of leadership in context.
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Table of Contents
Abstract .............................................................................................................................................. 6
List of abbreviations ................................................................................................................... 11
List of diagrams .............................................................................................................................. 11
List of Tables ....................................................................................................................................... 12
Chapter one: Introduction ................................................................................................................. 13
1.1 Background and rationale ...................................................................................................... 13
1.2 Aims, objectives and purpose ............................................................................................ 17
1.3 Research motivation ........................................................................................................... 19
1.4 Theoretical foundation ........................................................................................................ 21
1.5 The research problem ......................................................................................................... 22
1.6 Research question ............................................................................................................... 23
1.7 Structure of the thesis ......................................................................................................... 24
1.8 Chapter summary .................................................................................................................... 25
Chapter two: Literature Review ........................................................................................................ 26
2.1 Overview ................................................................................................................................... 26
2.1.1 Ancient Western perceptions of leadership .................................................................. 27
2.1.2 The social construction of leadership ............................................................................ 28
2. 2 Mainstream leadership concepts ......................................................................................... 30
2.2.1 The trait and great man theory ....................................................................................... 30
2.2.2 Behavioural leadership concepts relative to power..................................................... 33
2.2.3 Behavioural or style approaches relative to work ........................................................ 36
2.2.4 Situational and contingency leadership ........................................................................ 38
2.2.5) Issues with early leadership concepts ......................................................................... 42
2.3 New leadership paradigm or heroic leadership approaches............................................. 43
2.3.1 Transforming and transformational leadership ............................................................ 43
2.3.2 Charismatic leadership theory ........................................................................................ 46
2.3.4 Critique of new leadership paradigm ............................................................................. 47
2.4 Post-heroic leadership paradigm .......................................................................................... 49
2.4.1 Inclusive leadership ......................................................................................................... 49
2.4.2 Relational Leadership ...................................................................................................... 53
2.4.3 Critical leadership ............................................................................................................. 55
2.4.4 Discursive Leadership ..................................................................................................... 58
2.4.5 Ethical and moral approaches to leadership ................................................................ 61
2.5 Leadership, culture and context ............................................................................................ 63
2.7 Chapter summary, reflections and gaps .............................................................................. 64
Chapter three: Studies and discourses of Leadership in Africa .................................................. 66
3.1 Theories and perceptions of leadership in Africa ........................................................... 66
3.1.1 Ubuntu leadership philosophy ........................................................................................ 67
3.1.2 Post-colonial or Pan-Africanist perception of leadership ........................................... 70
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3.1.3 Neo-pragmatic school ...................................................................................................... 71
3.1.4 Other discourses of leadership in Africa ....................................................................... 73
3.2 Empirical Research into leadership in the African context ............................................ 75
3.2.1 Leadership and management in practice ..................................................................... 75
3.2.2 Leadership meanings ...................................................................................................... 76
3.3 The social anthropology of leadership in Africa .................................................................. 78
3.3.1 Early explorer accounts of leadership ........................................................................... 78
3.3.2 Early colonial officials’ accounts .................................................................................... 80
3.3.3 Anthropological studies in west and central Africa ...................................................... 81
3.3. 4 Indigenous leadership amongst the ‘Maasai’ tribe in Kenya .................................... 84
3.3.5 Leadership in Maori culture in New Zealand ................................................................ 84
3.4 Chapter summary .................................................................................................................... 86
Chapter four: Research methodology ............................................................................................. 88
4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 88
4.1.1 Research Philosophy: Social constructionism ............................................................. 88
4.1.2 Locating this study within social constructionism ........................................................ 89
4.1.3 Conviction about social reality ........................................................................................ 90
4.2 Research methodology and methods:.................................................................................. 91
4.2.1 Research method: Qualitative research ....................................................................... 91
4.2.2 Approach to fieldwork ...................................................................................................... 92
4.2.3 Research design strategy: Case study ......................................................................... 93
4.2.4 The context of research field: Indigenous SSA ........................................................... 94
4.2.5 Type of data and research perspectives: Mixed qualitative data .............................. 95
4.2.6 My Role of the researcher, access, challenges ........................................................... 97
4.2.7 Role of fieldworkers and access .................................................................................... 98
4.3 Rationale for Credibility, Consistency and Rigor .............................................................. 100
4.3.1 Credibility ......................................................................................................................... 101
4.3.2 Consistency, rigor and dependability .......................................................................... 103
4.3.3 Purposive sampling ........................................................................................................ 104
4.3.4 Sampling of councils ...................................................................................................... 105
4.3.5 Ethical practice ............................................................................................................... 105
4.4 Data collection strategy: Organisational Perspective....................................................... 109
4.4.1 Group discussions .......................................................................................................... 109
4.4.2 Unstructured interview ................................................................................................... 110
4.5 Social Anthropological approaches ................................................................................ 110
4.5.1 Observations, artefacts and fieldnotes ........................................................................ 111
4.5.2 Analysis of the data ........................................................................................................ 111
4.5.3 Narrative Analysis (NA) ................................................................................................. 111
4.5.4 Analysis of Ethnography................................................................................................ 113
4.5.5 Thematic Analysis (TA) ................................................................................................. 113
4.6 Limitation of the research method ....................................................................................... 116
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4.7 Chapter summary .............................................................................................................. 117
Chapter five: Findings: Social anthropology ................................................................................ 118
5.1 Insight into indigenous leadership ....................................................................................... 119
5.1.1 Definitions of Leadership ............................................................................................... 122
5.1.2 Leadership in the local languages ............................................................................... 123
5.1.3 Leadership structure and decision-Making................................................................. 125
5.1.4 Leadership doing ............................................................................................................ 128
5.1.5 Other cultural aspects of leadership ............................................................................ 129
5.2 Symbolism and artefacts of leadership .............................................................................. 133
5.2.1 The community tree and leadership ............................................................................ 133
5.2.2 The Leopard and leadership ......................................................................................... 136
5.2.3 The leadership stool, throne or chair ........................................................................... 140
5.2.4 Headwear, staff and dressing ornaments ................................................................... 142
5.3 Rituals, mythology and legends .......................................................................................... 145
5.3.1 Stories and myths relating to leadership .................................................................... 147
5.3.2 The rituals of leadership ................................................................................................ 149
5.3.3 Rituals for the installation of a leader .......................................................................... 150
5.3.4 The burial rites of leaders .............................................................................................. 152
5.3.5 The image of the indigenous leader ............................................................................ 153
5.4 Chapter summary .................................................................................................................. 153
Chapter six: Findings - Organisational approach ........................................................................ 155
6.1 Leadership conceptualisation and meanings .................................................................... 156
6.1.1 Meanings of leadership: What is leadership? ............................................................ 156
6.1.2 Leadership as performance .......................................................................................... 159
6.1.3 Factors influencing leadership ...................................................................................... 160
6.1.4 Theme Summary ............................................................................................................ 163
6.2 Unethical practices in leadership in the LGCs .................................................................. 164
6.2.1 The problem of corruption in LGCs ............................................................................. 164
6.2.2 Tribalism and favouritism .............................................................................................. 165
6.2.3 Motivations to take up leadership ................................................................................ 166
6.2.4 Summary of theme ......................................................................................................... 168
6.3 Leadership Practice ............................................................................................................... 168
6.3.1 Leadership doing ............................................................................................................ 168
6.3.2 The nature of leadership within LGCs ......................................................................... 170
6.3.3 Approach to leadership in LGCs .................................................................................. 171
6.3.4 Summary of section ....................................................................................................... 173
6.4 Chapter summary .................................................................................................................. 173
Chapter seven: Discussion of findings .......................................................................................... 175
7.1 Part 1: Discussions of Common Findings from both perspectives ................................ 176
7.1.1 Meanings of leadership in context ............................................................................... 177
7.1.2 Hybridity, Dualism and co-habitation ........................................................................... 182
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7.1.3 Change and effect of change ....................................................................................... 184
7.1.4 Summary of part one ..................................................................................................... 187
7.2 Part 2: Organisational Analysis ........................................................................................... 187
7.2.1 Ethics and leadership within LGCs .............................................................................. 188
7.2.2 Influence of Western Perceptions of leadership ........................................................ 191
7.2.3 The concept of power within LGCs .............................................................................. 195
7.2.4 Summary of part two ...................................................................................................... 197
7.3 Part three: Discussion of social anthropological findings ................................................ 197
7.3.1 Indigenous constructions and mainstream accounts ................................................ 198
7.3.2 Indigenous African and emergent leadership ............................................................ 200
7.3.3 New Insight of the thesis ............................................................................................... 203
7.3.4 A tale of two research Approaches .............................................................................. 206
7.3.5 Summary of part three ................................................................................................... 210
7.5 Summary: chapter seven ......................................................................................................... 211
Chapter eight Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 213
8.1 Review of Research question, aims and objectives ............................................................. 213
8.2 A theory of indigenous African leadership ......................................................................... 215
8.3. Contribution of the research ............................................................................................... 217
8.2.1 Methodological contribution .......................................................................................... 218
8.2.2 Theoretical contribution ................................................................................................. 219
8.2.3 Personal contribution ..................................................................................................... 220
8.3 Implication of the research ................................................................................................... 221
8.3.1 Implication for research methods ................................................................................. 221
8.3.2 Implication for theory development .............................................................................. 222
8.3.3 Implications for practice in Africa ................................................................................. 223
8.3.4 Implications for development in Africa ........................................................................ 224
8.3.5 Limitation of the thesis ................................................................................................... 225
8.4 Looking back: Personal reflection on fieldwork ............................................................. 227
8.5 Future research .................................................................................................................. 229
References .................................................................................................................................... 231
Appendices .................................................................................................................................... 241

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