Many faces of Africa’s Big Men

African heads of state and government gathered together can be quite a spectacle. Some make you suppress a laugh, others make you stifle a yawn, and yet others make you want to cry.

They cut a multiplicity of images at the Assembly of the African Union’s 16th Ordinary Session on Sunday. Any keen journalist would not want to take his or her eyes off their excellencies before coming up with a verdict.

My eyes come to rest on Meles Zenawi, the AU host and Prime Minister of Ethiopia. I see what western reporters see in Cote d’Ivoire’s Gbagbo; I see a strongman.

However hard he tries to exchange pleasantries with his colleagues and members of their entourage on the floor, his I’m-a no-nonsense-man image cannot be concealed. His fast receding hairline, that has left an airport-like patch on his scalp, works to reinforce the image.

My eyes reluctantly leave him and settle on Yoweri Museveni, the Ugandan President who refuses to let go of Migingo Island. I see another strongman.

He needed not make any effort to show all and sundry that he was at the conference for serious business and nothing else. I couldn’t help but pity Ugandans who have had to endure him for two decades and are poised to do so for many more years to come. The fellow has not even attained the age of 70.

Museveni will probably improve on the long record at the helm, set by Robert Mugabe, President of Zimbabwe. Those clamouring for generation change should see the youthful Mugabe.

Despite the rumours that good old Robert is in bad health, he looks years younger than his age. He walks straight and his face is bright. I can’t rule out the man remaining in power till he is over a century old.

Then there is of course, our very own Emilio Mwai Kibaki, Kenya’s president. One word sums him up: aloof.

Having reached for his seat, he remains faithful to the podium, hardly turning his head to look to the sides or even nod. From my corner in the press gallery, I keep wondering whether he is awake or merely struggling to be seen to be awake and following the proceedings. I give up.

Over to Abdoulaye Wade, president of Senegal. Tired man, if there ever was one.

Unlike his peer, brother Robert from Zimbabwe, the good old scholar is visibly tired, no matter how much he tries to hide it. As he makes his way to the washroom and back during the session, I wonder why he has chosen to hang on when there is a legion Senegalese ready to give their lives for his seat.

After all, having risen so high, he can never lack a job. Is he not aware how busy Kenneth Kaunda, Jerry Rawlings, Thabo Mbeki or even Festus Mogae are?

Goodluck Jonathan, the President of Nigeria is one lucky man. Flamboyance, his broad-brimmed hat, and perhaps the fame of the country he leads, make him stand out among his colleagues.

Circumstances force him to remove the hat to wear a head phone for translation and this does him a great disservice. I hope he wins the April presidential poll so that he can continue gracing the African scene.

Pierre Nkurunziza the president of Burundi is simply colourless. The youthful chief executive of the tiny country cuts an image of an uninspiring leader; almost looking intimidated. So much for youthful leaders. Things would probably be different were he the president of a massive landmass like the neighbouring DRC.

And you can’t fail to spot Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, president of Liberia. She is graceful. The only woman CEO of the 53-member organisation may inspire many of her gender to aim higher.