I will never forget how the ghetto molded us into street leaders long before we became corporate leaders. The lessons we learnt were phenomenal. Leadership, as I have come to understand it, is not just about titles or positions; it is about influence, resilience, and the ability to navigate adversity. The ghetto was our first boardroom, our first battlefield, and our first leadership school.
Growing up in a family with ten members dwelling in two rooms was not that easy. We were squashed, but we never noticed it. We were hungry, but so were our neighbors. The whole neighborhood had no television except for one belonging to a wonderful, short, stocky man called Gomo—ironically, a name that means “mountain” in my Zimbabwean dialect. Every Saturday, we would congregate at his house to watch Sounds on Saturday, a local music show, followed by World Wrestling Foundation matches featuring Hulk Hogan and the late great Ultimate Warrior. But the highlight of our evening was always the Safirio Madzikatire Show, starring the legendary Mukadota.
Mukadota was miles ahead of Steve Harvey and Bill Cosby, yet he was born in Africa, where talent was often underappreciated. Still, he entertained, educated, and inspired us. His humor and storytelling skills made him larger than life, a leader in his own right. This was one of my first lessons in leadership: True leaders inspire people beyond their circumstances.
The Hustle: Learning Business and Leadership on the Streets
The streets taught us to cut deals and make money. We learned the art of the hustle, selling anything and everything—from sweets and fruits to vegetables and mealies. Our markups were impressive, sometimes as high as 300%. We even ventured into selling second-hand clothes with remarkable success. Entrepreneurial leadership is about identifying opportunities, taking calculated risks, and adapting to challenges.
One of the most powerful lessons I learned was how to sell food at soccer matches. This was a gold mine, a leadership lesson in spotting demand and meeting it with supply. I became so good at it that I started making real money for my family.
One day, during a soccer match between Dynamos and Ziscosteel, the ten-year-old in me surfaced. After selling out all my goods, I decided to indulge in some meat pies and ice creams. The result? I went home without the full amount of sales. That night, I got the beating of my life. That was the day the boy in me became a man. Leadership comes with responsibility and accountability.
The Brotherhood: Learning Teamwork and Solidarity
The ghetto taught us to play as a team. We learned to pool resources together, share what little we had, and support each other in times of need. Great leaders understand that success is never a solo journey; it is always a collective effort.
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We carried each other’s burdens, ensuring that no one was left behind. We never abandoned our partners in the fire. If one of us suffered, we all suffered. If one of us succeeded, we all celebrated. Leadership is about loyalty, solidarity, and standing together through hardships.
The Power of Resilience and Faith
The ghetto was tough, but it built within us an unshakable resilience. We faced hardship with courage, knowing that tomorrow would be better. We prayed for each other, fed each other, and uplifted one another. Leadership is about hope—giving people the strength to believe in a better future, even when today seems unbearable.
The Leadership Tree
We were raised under the leadership tree, shaped by the ghetto into men and women of substance. Today, as corporate leaders, we carry with us the lessons of those streets—the wisdom of the hustle, the power of teamwork, the essence of accountability, and the unbreakable spirit of resilience.
The ghetto did not just teach us to survive; it taught us to lead. Even in the depths of the ghetto, we still recognized that Jesus Christ is the Ultimate Leader. We followed Him then, and we follow Him now. We will follow Him all the days of our lives. Christ is the Unshakeable Shaker and the Unmovable Mover.
Dr Ted Msipa is Pastor, Author, Visionary, Entrepreneur and Public Speaker based in Maseru, Lesotho. He is a leading voice in leadership, personnel development, organisational thinking, transformational leader and people builder in sub-Sahara Africa and Beyond. He writes here in his personal capacity and views shared here do not necessarily reflect those of Africa News 24. Dr Ted can be reached on Coachted117@gmail.com or on +266 63177309.
