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From an African perspective, listening has always been central. Traditional leadership often takes the form of indaba in the Nguni languages, and lekhotla in the Sesotho language — community gatherings where everyone has a voice, and decisions are made collectively. A lekhotla in Sesotho culture is a long deliberation on individual issues or cases, as well as community issues. Concerned parties speak to the issue first. Different opinions are then heard from the diversity of the community/village members present. Each opinion is listened to, valued, weighted, related to the matter at hand and deliberated on. A Sesotho saying goes that, “Mooa khotla ha a tsekisoe”, which literally translates “the one who drops/falls onto the lekhotla is not refused”, meaning that any person and/or any opinion is welcomed as valuable contribution to the betterment of the community, it is worth listening to. Decisions are reached when all opinions have been heard. Individuals trust the lekhotla as a safe environment and platform to be heard out. That trust begins with listening — not imposing answers, but hearing wisdom from the ground.

 

Listening is therefore not passive silence. It is active presence, humble curiosity, and disciplined empathy. Passing the baton on with listening ensures that leaders not only speak vision but also hear the voices that give it life.