Leadership insights from selected Setswana proverbs: An African perspective

Abstract

This article demonstrates that Setswana proverbs enrich the concept of leadership within the Setswana culture. Some Setswana proverbs and cultural leadership principles are in synergy towards character formation, community building and competency expectations. In other words, leadership principles expressed through Setswana proverbs are categorised according to the character, community and competency in leadership. There are hundreds of proverbs in this language speaking about character formation whereby an individual takes responsibility for self-formation through community engagement based on leadership. The kgosi [king] is expected by the community to be competent in or through participative leadership style. The kgosi is a leader showing no favouritism, but is accommodative to all people regardless of their abilities and disabilities. The three Cs (Character, Community and Competency) are not ordered in priority, but for discussion purposes. The discussion starts by understanding the Setswana concept of leadership and makes conclusions by appealing to the inclusion of Setswana proverbs in all academic interdisciplinary studies as a way of decolonising education towards emancipation from religio-cultural inhibitions and stereotypes.

Contribution: This article reawakens the importance of the knowledge of African proverbs and idioms. These are invaluable tools with high potency towards the decolonisation of education including religion and philosophy in Africa. Leadership from an African perspective, especially from Setswana understanding, is accurately expressed through some Setswana proverbs. Learning leadership principles through Setswana proverbs enriches African epistemologies and ontologies.