--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think Africa is slowly learning - and…" description: "\"I think Africa is slowly learning - and painfully - that importance of insisting on responsible leadership. It will come eventually, and we may be impa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fc/chinua-achebe-781_africa_i-think-africa-is-slowly-learning-and-pa_180504.jpg" --- # I think Africa is slowly learning - and painfully - that… ![“I think Africa is slowly learning - and painfully - that importance of insisting on responsible leadership. It will come eventually, and we may be impatient and rightly so, because it is not coming fast enough. But that is the way to go.” quote by Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fc/chinua-achebe-781_africa_i-think-africa-is-slowly-learning-and-pa_180504.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fc/chinua-achebe-781_africa_i-think-africa-is-slowly-learning-and-pa_180504.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fc/chinua-achebe-781_africa_i-think-africa-is-slowly-learning-and-pa_180504.jpg) > “I think Africa is slowly learning - and painfully - that importance of insisting on responsible leadership. It will come eventually, and we may be impatient and rightly so, because it is not coming fast enough. But that is the way to go.” [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Africa is gradually realizing the need for responsible leadership, but progress is slow; impatience is understandable. **In simple terms:** Africa learns about good leadership, but it’s a slow process. Key Takeaway Support accountable leaders and push for faster change. Themes leadership development patience Mood hopeful urgent Type inspirational motivational When to use this quote - political reform - community initiatives - education programs Key Concepts governance social responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What can accelerate responsible leadership? - How can impatience be channeled productively? A Different Perspective Change may be delayed by entrenched interests. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Africa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/africa/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [You do not deserve the level you are on or the lofty position that you have if simple agreed meetings/appointments, you cannot even comply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myron-sta-ana/you-do-not-deserve-the-level-you-are-on-or-the-lofty-position-that/) [Myron Sta Ana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myron-sta-ana/) > [I think not just Nigeria but I think the whole of Africa has to turn back to the rural areas and that's where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/i-think-not-just-nigeria-but-i-think-the-whole-of-africa-has-to-turn/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [My final advice for young people is to not wait for leadership from adult politicians. Step forward today, because our current leaders are denying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumi-naidoo/my-final-advice-for-young-people-is-to-not-wait-for-leadership-from/) [Kumi Naidoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumi-naidoo/) > [Winning is what happens when commitment, desire, talent, preparation, hard work, and leadership all come together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coughlin/winning-is-what-happens-when-commitment-desire-talent-preparation/) [Tom Coughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coughlin/) > [People don't just show up and lie down in the middle of the street some place out of nothing. Somebody said meet me there,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-bond/people-don-t-just-show-up-and-lie-down-in-the-middle-of-the-street/) [Julian Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-bond/) > [“Leaders are raised through training and experience. Nobody was born naturally with hand-gloves of leadership. We come to life to search for it, discover…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/leaders-are-raised-through-training-and-experience-nobody-was-born/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [It's been a great learning experience, and I'm hoping these games prepare us for January, February and a little bit of March. Our chemistry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-green/it-s-been-a-great-learning-experience-and-i-m-hoping-these-games/) [Tom Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-green/) > [“Leadership must come from all of us -- the private, public, and civil sectors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-lowitt/leadership-must-come-from-all-of-us-the-private-public-and-civil/) Eric Lowitt > [The responsibility of leadership is not to come up with all the ideas but to create an environment in which great ideas can thrive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/the-responsibility-of-leadership-is-not-to-come-up-with-all-the-ideas/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [When we look for the origins of all humanity today, let's not just look at Europe, because I think Africa was the cradle, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-johanson/when-we-look-for-the-origins-of-all-humanity-today-let-s-not-just/) [Donald Johanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-johanson/) > [If people in this country think of Africa as a place with kids and flies swarming around their heads, then they won't understand that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-cheadle/if-people-in-this-country-think-of-africa-as-a-place-with-kids-and/) [Don Cheadle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-cheadle/) > [I don't think Africa gets as much credit as it should have on the world stage. People tend to think of us as coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-oppenheimer/i-don-t-think-africa-gets-as-much-credit-as-it-should-have-on-the/) [Nicky Oppenheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-oppenheimer/) > [I think that Africa has made quite rapid progress and a lot of the conflicts that we saw on the continent have abated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dramani-mahama/i-think-that-africa-has-made-quite-rapid-progress-and-a-lot-of-the/) [John Dramani Mahama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dramani-mahama/) > [When you ask people what they think of Africa, they think of AIDS, genocide, disasters, famine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/when-you-ask-people-what-they-think-of-africa-they-think-of-aids/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [And I think that Africa is making progress that the world needs to recognize and assist the continent to continue on that path.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dramani-mahama/and-i-think-that-africa-is-making-progress-that-the-world-needs-to/) [John Dramani Mahama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dramani-mahama/) ## More by Chinua Achebe > [“In such a regime, I say you died a good death if your life had inspired someone to come forward and shoot your murdered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/in-such-a-regime-i-say-you-died-a-good-death-if-your-life-had/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [“Do not despair. I know you will not despair. You have a manly and a proud heart. A proud heart can survive a general…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/do-not-despair-i-know-you-will-not-despair-you-have-a-manly-and-a/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [My son even if you want to fall, at least fall where your bones can be gathered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/my-son-even-if-you-want-to-fall-at-least-fall-where-your-bones-can-be/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [“And so Mr. Brown came to be respected even by the clan, because he trod softly on its faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/and-so-mr-brown-came-to-be-respected-even-by-the-clan-because-he-trod/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [“I have learned that a man who makes trouble for others is also making it for himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/i-have-learned-that-a-man-who-makes-trouble-for-others-is-also-making/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [In fact, I thought that Christianity was very a good and a very valuable thing for us. But after a while, I began to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/in-fact-i-thought-that-christianity-was-very-a-good-and-a-very/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [I find Nigeria very frustrating. I am not alone in this. There are many Nigerians abroad. As you know, the brain drain is just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/i-find-nigeria-very-frustrating-i-am-not-alone-in-this-there-are-many/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [I do not actually see how art, literature can be anything other that being in that domain of trying to tell us, trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/i-do-not-actually-see-how-art-literature-can-be-anything-other-that/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [Democracy is not something you put away for ten years, and then in the 11th year you wake up and start practicing again. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/democracy-is-not-something-you-put-away-for-ten-years-and-then-in-the/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [When there is a big tree small ones climb on its back to reach the sun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/when-there-is-a-big-tree-small-ones-climb-on-its-back-to-reach-the-sun/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [When I began going to school and learned to read, I encountered stories of other people and other lands. In one of my essays,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/when-i-began-going-to-school-and-learned-to-read-i-encountered/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [Almost nobody dances sober, unless they happen to be insane. H. P. LOVECRAFT, attributed, Telling It Like It Is Dancing is very important nowadays.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/almost-nobody-dances-sober-unless-they-happen-to-be-insane-h-p/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [This is why I find racism impossible, because this is against humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/this-is-why-i-find-racism-impossible-because-this-is-against-humanity/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [“Then listen to me,' he said and cleared his throat. 'It's true that a child belongs to its father. But when a father beats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/then-listen-to-me-he-said-and-cleared-his-throat-it-s-true-that-a/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [What you must accept is that your life is not going to be the same while you are writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/what-you-must-accept-is-that-your-life-is-not-going-to-be-the-same/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) [Explore all 368 Chinua Achebe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) ## More Africa quotes > [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Africa, being the major target of colonial plunder, therefore becomes a major source of conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-horne/africa-being-the-major-target-of-colonial-plunder-therefore-becomes-a/) [Gerald Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-horne/) > [I'm in 'Madagascar 2.' I'm Testy the Lion. The franchise moves to Africa, and Bernie Mac is also in the film. I loved working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lister-jr/i-m-in-madagascar-2-i-m-testy-the-lion-the-franchise-moves-to-africa/) [Tom Lister, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lister-jr/) > [South Africa needs a second liberation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/south-africa-needs-a-second-liberation/) [Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/) > [There's a place in Botswana where there are 100,000 elephants living in a single population. Think of the amount of space they need. Remember,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-bergin/there-s-a-place-in-botswana-where-there-are-100-000-elephants-living/) [Patrick Bergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-bergin/) > [If you followed the media you'd think that everybody in Africa was starving to death, and that's not the case; so it's important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/if-you-followed-the-media-you-d-think-that-everybody-in-africa-was/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [Africa for the Africans... at home and abroad!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/africa-for-the-africans-at-home-and-abroad/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [In Africa, animals and the natural landscape allow local communities to support themselves, as there is a constant source of money from tourism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/in-africa-animals-and-the-natural-landscape-allow-local-communities/) [David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/) > [My mom is from Ghana, and my dad is from Detroit, so I would go back and forth to Africa a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-richardson/my-mom-is-from-ghana-and-my-dad-is-from-detroit-so-i-would-go-back/) [Sam Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-richardson/) > [I've never been invited to do an exhibition or do a talk in England, except once, about 10 years ago. I've given talks all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wildsmith/i-ve-never-been-invited-to-do-an-exhibition-or-do-a-talk-in-england/) [Brian Wildsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wildsmith/) > [I represent my country, but I also represent the continent of Africa when I play in Europe. That's why it's important to try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaya-toure/i-represent-my-country-but-i-also-represent-the-continent-of-africa/) [Yaya Toure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaya-toure/) > [What we need in South Africa is for egos to be suppressed in favour of peace. We need to create a new breed of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hani/what-we-need-in-south-africa-is-for-egos-to-be-suppressed-in-favour/) [Chris Hani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hani/) > [I was learning to track rhinoceroses in Africa and tracked right up on an animal that really I thought was going to kill me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/i-was-learning-to-track-rhinoceroses-in-africa-and-tracked-right-up/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [I am interested in bringing Africa to the foot of the Cross.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhard-bonnke/i-am-interested-in-bringing-africa-to-the-foot-of-the-cross/) [Reinhard Bonnke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhard-bonnke/) > [My mother is a huge fan of my work. I told her about 'Coraline' long before the film was made, and she got the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-selick/my-mother-is-a-huge-fan-of-my-work-i-told-her-about-coraline-long/) [Henry Selick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-selick/) [Browse all 1,665 Africa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/africa/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think Africa is slowly learning - and painfully - that importance of insisting on responsible leadership. It will come eventually, and we may be impatient and rightly so, because it is not coming fast enough. 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