Deneocoloniality in Power Structure: Contesting Africa's Over-Centralization of Power

The concept of democracy, as rooted in Western ideology, has not been fully embraced in Africa, despite the third wave of democracy that swept through numerous countries in Africa South of the Sahara. Decades after gaining independence, a significant number of African governments continue to struggle in upholding democratic principles consistently. The authoritarian tendencies exhibited by many African leaders, which contrast with the Western notion of democracy, appear to stem partly from the legacies of colonialism and neocolonialism. This chapter posits that the over-centralization of power observed in many African countries is a lingering consequence of neocolonialism—a historical injury inflicted by colonial powers. Drawing on the Diopian Restoration of African Historical Consciousness Methodology, which underscores the revitalization of African historical awareness and the principle of cultural unity and continuity across Africa, it argues that deneocolonizing Africa’s power structures involves embracing an African model of leadership rooted in indigenous historical narratives. With a departure from Eurocentric/Western paradigms that have complicated Africa’s leadership landscape, the chapter advocates for the restoration of traditional systems and chieftaincy institutions that thrived during precolonial eras in various African societies as viable solutions. Building upon the arguments of African scholars championing this perspective, the chapter proposes that deneocoloniality in these power structures entails a return to more effective governance systems that predate colonial influences. By reinstating these indigenous African political frameworks, the chapter contends that a solid and collective economic foundation can be established across African communities.