Thabo Mbeki, the patron of TMALI and former South African President The type of leaders required by Africa are men and women of reason, who are qualified and capable of holding their own in world affairs, and who can be trusted in their dealings with people and resources. This is the leadership currently required in Africa to address the continent’s challenges – leaders who give themselves entirely to their nations and to their continent. Without this adequate leadership, progress and development cannot be achieved. This call for innovative and intellectual leaders in Africa formed part of the dynamic discussions of the 2012 Annual Thabo Mbeki Africa Day Lecture hosted by Unisa and the Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute (TMALI) on 24 May. The discussions covered a range of topics and highlighted Africa’s challenges, possible solutions, the role of Western forces in Africa’s liberation, the importance of partnerships within Africa, and the respo...