Abstract:
Across institutions and professions, leadership philosophy is considered the driver of
organisational culture in achieving the overall objectives. Although individuals’ leadership cultures
may vary, intersections and hybridity are present in many spheres, including that of some African
Neo-Pentecostal Leaders (ANPLs). To underscore the hybrid leadership of the ANPLs, qualitative
research was conducted, with data collected from 20 participants through one-on-one interviews
across Africa. The results revealed the hybridisation of African Neo-Pentecostal leadership styles visa-vis African monarchical and religious traditions based on four variables: accountability, ownership
and succession plan, healing, and gerontocracy. The results also revealed the benefits and challenges
of their hybridity. Subsequently, using Jesus’s model of servant leadership to analyse the four
variables, the benefits and challenges were critiqued. The analysis identified culture, African spiritual
worldview, gerontocracy, and submissive theology as factors influencing such syncretic or hybrid
practices. The analysis also delineated the theological, socio-economic, legal, and transgenerational
implications of such hybrid leadership. This article concludes with cautionary remarks regarding
boundaries, servant leadership, and morality.
