Power and Influence: Self-Development Lessons from African Proverbs and Folktales by Chiku Malunga (review)

Africa is a continent replete with rich cultural tools that nurtured diverse ancient civilizations. However, Western scholarship has often omitted, ignored, or deemphasized this cultural heritage (see Davidson), an attitude based largely on the assumption that non-Western traditions are rudimentary (see Reagan), which smacks of an element of cultural and epistemological ethnocentrism. It is with this view that I find Malunga’s use of African proverbs and folktales as tools for self-development very welcome and opportune. The 21st century is witnessing the fusion of different socioeconomic paradigms as boundary lines of competing “isms” are now fading away. Thus, if we are to understand ourselves and others in this global era, we need to talk about the cultural interconnectedness of human experiences by fostering alternative visions of reality that can be referenced by advancing the use of indigenous symbols, such as the proverbs and folktales under consideration in Malunga’s text. Malunga’s underlying purpose here is to accelerate the process by which the existing discourses in traditional African thought and processes through folktales can be utilized as cultural tools in this era of globalization.

Chapter one, which serves as an introduction, provides a quick overview, illustrates the wisdom contained in African proverbs and folktales, and also addresses, in detail, themes such as African proverbs and folktales as sources of wisdom, the need for postcolonial knowledge and wisdom, African proverbs and their role in self-development, and the role of self-development. The second chapter builds on this introductory material by examining the purpose as the fountain and foundation of the process of self-development through the proverb “the river that forgets its source will soon dry up.” Malunga argues that identifying one’s purpose is the starting point of the journey of self-development and that when we surrender to our purpose, we are free from comparing ourselves with others. Thus, one must continually and consciously reflect on one’s uniqueness and how one can use it to one’s advantage and to touch other people.

Chapters three through eight are a dossier of essential themes and information surrounding the topic of self-development, such as how to concentrate one’s resources of time, money, and energy; the importance of creating practical plans in order to turn one’s life purpose into concrete work; how to build one’s mental powers; and the importance and role of effective time management. The underpinning message of chapters nine and ten, on the other hand, rest on the proverb “if an elephant steps on a trap that is set, the trap does not spring back” to discuss the processes and role of self-development in the acquisition, retention, and use of power and influence.

The concluding chapter synthesizes the issues raised through a practical summary of how to undertake the journey of self-development through the proverb “the only tree that grows is the forest.” The book concludes with fourteen pages of invaluable appendices, which might be useful for the reader and are one of the brightest spots of the book. Appendix 1 provides a list of “Power and Influence Proverbs,” addressing the major themes covered in the book, and includes resources about how African traditional oral literature can contribute to the development of one’s power and influence. In addition, appendices 2 and 3 discuss self-development assessment tools and interventions.

Most chapters open the dialogue with African proverbs followed by folktales to explore the conceptual and pedagogical landscapes of these non-Western cultural narratives. The sub-themes are packed with essential information, sometimes with illustrations from lived experiences from the author, which help create an alternative paradigm of reality that gives the reader a clearer and better understanding of the subject. A major strength of the book is that each chapter ends with critical thinking challenges in the form of “Reflection” proverbs, which help the reader conceptualize the embedded lessons. Thus...