Local leadership is crucial in Africa. This article focuses on leadership in
African Independent Churches, more specifically on the leader of a local
congregation of the Corinthian Church, Rev Dingani in Phepheni, Eastern
Cape. The article is composed of two parts. The first part is a portrait of
Dingani, mainly from an emic (inside) point of view. After a biographical
sketch, his ministry and liturgical leadership are outlined, followed by a
portrait of Rev Dingani as a theologian. The second part, which mainly takes
an etic (outside) stance, places this portrait in a wider context of leadership
in African Independent Churches and sub-Saharan Africa as a whole. After
indicating some general features of African leadership, the article focuses
more specifically on two leadership styles: 1. The humane-oriented and
charismatic/value-based style. 2. The participative and autonomous style.
By distinguishing this emic and etic positions, we confront Western and
African epistemologies, without reconciling them in advance.