An evaluation of post-colonial African leadership: A study of Ayi Kwei Armahs The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born, and Chinua Achebes A Man of the People

Abstract

This paper centers on how post-colonial African leaders in Armah's The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born and Achebe's A Man of the People have shifted from democratic leadership to an autocratic type of governance. The paper denotes a form of corruption that departs from cherished values and ideals of post-colonial Africa. The key method of this paper is textual analysis. The paper seeks to show the socio-economic disillusionment of an independent African society. The leaders abuse their posts to enrich themselves at the nation's expense. The paper seeks to show how the black people's quest for shared power and freedom has been thwarted by the post-colonial African governments. The paper also dwells on how the misuse of power causes the offices of African leaders to be sources of evil and wealth creation for a few selected individuals.