Otile Brown calls on African leaders to learn from Burkina Faso’s Ibrahim Traoré

Kenyan singer Jacob Obunga, popularly known as Otile Brown, has commended Burkina Faso’s young president, Ibrahim Traoré, hailing him as a beacon of authentic leadership on a continent long plagued by self-serving political elites.

In an Instagram post on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, the ‘Jeraha’ crooner urged African leaders to take a hard look at themselves and begin benchmarking from Traoré’s style of governance.

According to Otile, rather than drawing inspiration from the progressive strides made by the young West African leader, many African heads of state appear to be deliberately trying to undermine him.

This, he says, reveals a troubling culture of jealousy and fear that has no place in modern leadership.

“I have seen many African leaders want to gang up against Ibrahim Traoré for what he is trying to do for his country—and you wonder, why are these leaders not inspired?” he posed.

The singer, who has in recent days become vocal about social and political matters, pointed out that Africa’s leadership crisis is deeply rooted in secrecy and a lack of accountability.

He argued that it is high time African leaders start opening up about their vision for the future, particularly to citizens at the grassroots.

“It reaches a point where our leaders must tell us about the future, yet sisi wananchi wa kawaida [we ordinary citizens] don’t know anything about it,” he said. “All this money they are going crazy about—what is it for? What do you want to do with all this money?” he shared.

Colonial mindset

Otile did not hold back in criticising what he described as a persistent colonial mindset among the continent’s ruling class, accusing many of them of continuing to operate with a slave-era mentality that sees power as a tool for domination instead of service.

He warned that until African leaders decolonise their minds and begin to lead with purpose, development will remain a distant dream.

“It reaches a point where we Black people, and Africans in particular, need to mature and tuache fikira za kitumwa [abandon slave-like thinking],” he added.

He went further to challenge African presidents to seek fulfilment not in extravagant lifestyles or offshore bank accounts but in the well-being of their citizens.

Leadership, he said, should be a calling to empower others rather than a means to accumulate wealth.

“My message to our leaders is that the minute you start caring for your people and empowering them, you will feel amazing, peaceful, and fulfilled,” he said. “With all these resources and money taken and still not enough—it means there is a problem. You need to check the inside of you,” Otile said.

Reflecting on the affection and admiration Ibrahim Traoré enjoys from his people, Otile Brown said the love of a nation cannot be bought and is often earned through sincerity and service.

He described Traoré’s connection with the people of Burkina Faso as a testament to the value of genuine leadership.

“You see how Ibrahim Traoré is loved—that is priceless,” Otile remarked. “Sometimes, how we treat our people is a reflection of ourselves. Even that generational wealth you are trying to create, Haitawasaidia [won’t help your children] because you’ve left behind a messed-up society,” he added.