These are two questions that will begin our GAPPAP-discussion on the challenges of nepotism in Africa. Corruption is defined as the use of personal power or influence for one’s personal gain. Nepotism is defined as using your power or influence to provide good jobs or unfair advantages for members of your own family.

Africa's countries are progressing towards a modern and a more inclusive society, but nepotism and corruption are slowing the process down and have created a negative image of Africa
Ambassador Evelyn Shilamba of the State of the African Diaspora, the first guest speaker of the GAPPAP Webinar regarding nepotism in Africa, straight out equates nepotism with corruption. Nepotism has had a negative impact on society, economy, and politics for centuries. So much so that, in the United States, numerous businesses and the government have anti-nepotism measures. Nepotism continuously erodes the freedom of equal opportunity in society. As governments and higher officials appoint their family members, who often don’t have the qualifications necessary for the position, a slew of issues arise. Mistrust is fostered in the workforce due to the favouritism. The official or their family member will use resources in many cases in their personal interest. Employees or applicants who are more qualified for the job are left behind.

All these factors slow development and breed institutional corruption. Africa's countries are progressing towards a modern and a more inclusive society, but nepotism and corruption are slowing the process down and have created a negative image of Africa. Ambassador Shilamba especially focused on the inequality gap that continues to widen due to nepotism as a result of favouritist application and appraisal processes. Nepotism simply lends the way for corruption to thrive.



There are several ways to counter nepotism and its nefast consequences. Sanctions will discourage recidive. Education and awareness initiatives can prevent nepotism. And more checks and balances need to be put into place to prevent nepotism from taking hold.

London based academic, farmer, activist and founder of the African Union Watch Dr. Feyi Ogunade expanded on Shilamba’s point and discussed the numerous and well known examples of nepotism and corruption cases in Africa, such the way Angola's Isabel dos Santos accumulated $3.5 billion by both nepotism and sheer corruption and money laundring. Senegal is an example of the opposite. The country is incredibly serious about democracy. Nepotism is combatted and where corruption is fought. When the President of Senegal tried to appoint his son as his successor, in a country where democracy stands as incredibly important, the Senegalese people did not stand for it. There they stood as an example for all African countries to look to in fighting corruption and nepotism. Dr. Feyi passionately concluded that the way forward is to monitor and track down perpetrators of nepotism, so they can be exposed, and nepotism can be combatted.

Agricultural consultant Stephen Adeoye, who is based in Germany, passionately discusses the reformation of heart and mind that is necessary to get rid of nepotism. People from a nepotist culture need to be reborn, a notion Adeoye literally intends to sound religious. The allocation of skills, Mr Adeoye says, is incredibly important in job searching and hiring. Nepotism lends the way for skills that are not matched or required for the job that needs to be done. For example, in agriculture, the production manager for a farm hires his son who has a degree in engineering, not in agriculture for a job in supervising the fields, in which there are much more suited candidates available. He concluded that once nepotist cultures have a change of heart, ordinary people will be able to transpire and create anything.

Ogendi's more practical view of nepotism is based on the distinction between nepotism used to uplift family businesses, and nepotism used for selfish or greedy purposes. Negative nepotism is a huge factor in slowing down development in Africa
Academic law expert and lawyer Dr. Paul Ogendi from Kenya seems to hold a somewhat different view. Nepotism can be good and even prolific. Brothers and sisters, for example, can uplift each other and create family-based businesses. The same beneficial effect can translate into notions of identity, ethnicity and belonging to a group that makes nations evolve thus playing a major factor in their development, government and resource distribution. Where there is little or no education, the training to put someone in that position is not available, it is natural to look to those we know to fill the position.

Nepotism in distributing jobs, for example, is negative when it is put above meritocracy, and more suitable candidates are available. Ogendi's more practical view of nepotism is based on the distinction between nepotism used to uplift family businesses, and nepotism used for selfish or greedy purposes. If resources are shared equitably, a family business isn't nepotist in the negative sense of the word.

So where do nepotism and corruption cross paths? It is about leadership and integrity confined within the public space. A family business led by leaders would prevent corrupt 'nepotist' practices as it will be based on the guiding principles of objectivity and impartiality. Defined that way, nepotism doesn't equal corruption. However, it turns as a corrupt type of practice if it favours the interest of relatives to the detriment of public morality and justice.

This GAPPAP Webinar provided a platform for the panellists to begin the conversation about nepotism. Ideally it continues. Negative nepotism is a huge factor in slowing down development in Africa. Putting into place measures to combat it is in the best interests of society.