Are Africans open to feedback?

I took thirty minutes on the eve of May 2nd to give some feedback to Ahmed, an intern going back to his country after three months internship in Cameroon. Before coming for his internship, he had just six months of AIESEC experience, and based on his working records was sure of being given a permanent job at the end of the internship.

After three months and based on the feedback i collected from various sources including Ahmed's friends, colleagues, and hierarchy following the 360 methodology, it was obvious the trainee lacked initiative and leadership skills. Furthermore, as a person he appeared superficial and immature despite the awesome skills and apparent self-reliance he displayed most of the time.

During the first twenty minutes of the feedback discussion we, I tried to help him reflect on the key personal learning he derived from his internship. To my surprise he came up with superficial comments like not being given the computer, airtime and specific tasks agreed uponbefore his internship.

I then started giving some challenging facts about his behaviour and how people around him felt. At the end it was clear the blindspot of his traineeship was more related to him as a person. The professional side was pretty well dealt with, but his attitude negatively affected his relations with the hierarchy and colleagues.

What amazed me was his reaction. He first admitted all the facts, butstarted explaining himself away by pointing out the others. I remembered the most striking defense mechanism discovered by Anna Freud, rationalization: "I don't admit i'm at fault, I have reasons proving my behaviour is rational and right, others are wrong".

With the passing of minutes his speech was more and more elaborated, he spent 15 minutes explaining what he really is based on facts selected accordingly. At the end of his speech, I could see his angel wings!!he was just surrounded by evil (including me, the bastard lessons'giver:))
After our discussion, i spent a couple of hours reflecting.Did Ahmed's attitude have to do with the culture? Somehow, as Africansscarcely accept being given feedback; the authority to give advice comes from old age.Green hair is a sign of wisdom and provides theauthority to make accepted judgements.

How can people improve under such paradigms? They feel hurt in response to criticism, and those feelings deter them from using the feedback to the best advantage.

The same attitude exist in politics. Since 1989, Cameroon is under adjustment. In 1958 Cameroon had the same development index as Japanand most dragoon countries. Now we are begging for bilateral aid from these countries.

We spent 17 years to admit something went terribly wrong in the political machine. 17 years to admit we needed serious help from Bretton Woods.17 years to sincerely commit to the proposed programmes, specially in the field of good governance. Among the common reactions to "WBI/IMF dictatorship" we could listen : who are the so called experts from Bretton Woods to tell us what to do? Their countries arenot doing significantly better! We do have brighter scientists here! And then came rationalization and denial of reality: We are a blessed country! Look at ivory Coast, Rwanda! We live in peace! The management is outstanding!

With this mindset, the current regime ruled the country for 24 years!!!And he apparently wants more: die up there! In 2004 it came out with a new motto : Together let's built the Cameroon of greater ambitions! Nothing more, nothing less! It took 20 years of mediocrity to finally conceive great ambitions for a totally screwed up country!

And the leader was elected for seven more years to achieve the making of an ambitious country. When elected in 1982 he stood for rigor and ethics. After 20 years of hard work the country was voted most corrupt country of the world by Transparency International. Now comes the era of great ambition and achievement, hurrah!!!

The whole society is organized in such a way there's no dialogue, no feedback : elections are so fake that the national assembly is not representative at all, the judiciary power is not autonomous, there'sa long way to go to freedom of expression, marching is not allowed, top political leaders never meet and discuss the future of the country.

My country is like Ahmed, my intern. Most African countries are alike.people stay in power for decades without performing, and noone can tell them they are not helping their countries!
Culture of feedback has to be embedded in each and every individual at the early stages of his development. That is the price African youngpeople have to pay to themselves if they want to keep a chance of ever changing the face of Africa for the best.

Change can only start with me.