Innately African Agility - part 2
Our Vibranium
Africa is truly the “learning continent”, not only adapting to change but truly embracing it. Constantly straddling multiple worlds, we are constantly relentlessly balancing indigenous systems and adopted ones. New systems that disrupted how we learn (from oral to written), require us to learn new languages to access livelihood. This also shifted how we make a living, moving from organised passages of youth into certain work to deal with the “strong and privileged thrive” mentality that modern day capitalism is built on. Despite this, we have and continue to be strong competitors amidst natives of these systems.
Cultural Agility: Innately inclusionary processes
As Africans, we greet. “Sawubona”- the Zulu greeting literally translates to “I see you” with the intended follow up of “you are important, and I value you”. I can’t help but be tickled by stories of Africans travelling the western world, attempting to greet a fellow train or bus passengers and receiving not much more than confusion. It is shocking to us how little connection can be found in the daily commutes when far-from-home.
A mere greeting provides the safety of inclusion and recognition of people. As the Agile Manifesto prescribes, people need to be supported, consulted and their varying perspectives heard and incorporated. No matter who you are, you deserve a place at the table, a presence and a voice. This can be found from more traditional notions of African democracy from kgotlas to property and bride negotiations, where decisions were only solidified upon unilateral agreement; in short- we will talk and we will listen.
This participatory approach is reinforced in the notions of cultural agility (1). With increasing need for cross-cultural collaboration required to run successful businesses, competencies of cultural agility emerge as a crucial skill set. It behoves management to take on mindsets that allow for the incorporation of varying cultural perspectives. It is imperative to limit previously held assumptions of a specific culture superiority. Furthermore, cultural curiosity and emphasis on building diverse networks of relationships enable the interactions. The diversity of race, religion, heritage and socio-economic disparities place most African nations as expert practitioners of cultural agility.
There are countless examples of successes being attributed to this cultural agility from Joburg Market to Siemens Southern Africa (2). Joburg Market, South Africa’s largest fresh produce market, prides itself on the diversity in the ranks of their executive and management tiers. Boasting non-gendered representation from the black, Afrikaner and Portuguese communities, they are able to produce for and engage with a wider range of South African consumers. This too, is true for Capitec Bank - voted the ‘best bank on the planet’ by the Lafferty Group for the second year running and practicing agile principles such as: hiring outside of industry experts, employing younger, minimising hierarchies and ensuring the leadership team is regularly exposed to the start-up community (3).
Sustainability in mind: Work with our environment without attempting to conquer it
Taking a closer look at the post-modern era of African agriculture illuminates a primary driver of African approach to food security, prior to the scarcity we face today. Which land to cultivate and where one could fish was considered carefully to protect responsible consumption but also to protect community resources. This view of taking only what was needed and consideration of community ownership and responsibility has consistently been prevalent.
Today we see the introduction of big Agro entering the continental landscape, not dissimilar from other world regions, resulting in food insecurity caused by irresponsible farming strategies (4). This too can be seen in the destruction of the earth through non-renewable energy sources. African startups have made exciting strides in the light of these challenges, employing the foresight and embodying the core values of considering the impacts on people over mass production and work with local resources for more sustainable solutions.
Today we see the introduction of big Agro entering the continental landscape, not dissimilar from other world regions, resulting in food insecurity caused by irresponsible farming strategies (4). This too can be seen in the destruction of the earth through non-renewable energy sources. African startups have made exciting strides in the light of these challenges, employing the foresight and embodying the core values of considering the impacts on people over mass production and work with local resources for more sustainable solutions.
Sun Exchange is a South African start-up providing small-scale solar installations to low-resourced areas in approximately 90 nations (5). They exhibit resourcefulness, inclusion and portray a canny sense of solution-based drive to increase local investment in areas where there is little to none. Moreover, Sun Exchange is rooted in simplicity. One simple idea, utilise a renewable and accessible resource (the Sun), partner communities with micro-investors and set up installations that benefit the communities while providing a steady rate of return. It is a win-win that prioritises the real needs of the people, cooperates with all relevant parties all while increasing sustainability of not only a product but reduced the carbon footprint.
Initiatives such as this are budding all over the continent with local entrepreneurs, such as Togolese-born Afate Gnikou, (6) literally building livelihoods from waste. Gnikou could not ignore the increasing tons of e-waste imported to his country from the European computer market. In the spirit of true agility, he found the resources to upskill himself, went to the landfills and built a 3D printer with it. While the printer is, at the moment, capable of making small household items, Gnikou strives to put it to use to meet his nation's health needs and provide accessible medial prosthetics.
Solution Centred Resilience: Social impact Innovation in the face of unstructured structures
Last but not least, the notion of resilience is central to the African narrative. Despite many failing economies, limited infrastructure and frail social support structures, gaps are filled and progress can be found in the simplest solution arising from the challenges faced. This is where African agility most prominently shines. Broken health systems foster innovations that combat the flow of counterfeit medication and risky blood transfusions are regulated through intensified monitoring mechanisms. Unreliable and dangerous public transport is improved through heightened collaboration and action towards providing accessible and safer means. Fractured education systems are targeted, not by relying on the porous system but in addressing the root cause and promoting youth empowerment and reflecting and critical thinking skills. It is vital to note that many of the abovementioned endeavours have been led by youths under the age of 22 as part of the African leadership Academy’s Anzisha Prize (7). This group of youths show that the continent truly is ever adapting and addressing shortcomings left by a volatile, uncertain, complex and often ambiguous world.
Promoting Agility: dialogue SA
dialogue is in firm belief that this almost innate agility is our true Vibranium. This resilience, forward thinking, inclusive and solution centred approach to improving the life of our people is the true heart of the continent. The real resource is the human resource and the African ability to personify the agile mind-set.
In light of this, dialogue takes a comprehensive approach to enriching this mindset through hands-on support to individuals, leaders and organisations. Our programmes ignite agency, call on deep resources within change-makers and instil disciplined practice to develop radical leaders who power needed transformation.