It seems the practice of acquiring a long list of titles started with our earliest presidents soon after independence.After all, in Africa that is how our traditional chiefs and leaders are addressed. It thus seems that the post colonial presidents or rulers saw themselves as the new big chiefs.
In 1957, Ghana became the first African country to gain independence from Britain. Soon after, Kwame Nkrumah, the first president got himself suitably impressive titles. He was addressed as Osagyefo, (a chief's title, meaning Redeemer) Dr Kwame Nkrumah - Life President of the Republic of Ghana.
Former President of Malawi had the title 'Ngwazi' Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda-Life President of the Republic of Malawi.
Zimbabwean President Robert Gabriel Mugabe is referred to as His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Commander in-Chief of the Armed Forces and President and First Secretary of Zanu PF. Chancellor of all State Universities, Life President of Zimbabwe, “Son of Man”, Conqueror of the British Empire and Liberator of Farms.Supreme Leader, First Citizen of the Nation, Honorary Black Belt and Professor of Diplomacy.
Former president of Zaire now DRC was born Joseph Mobutu. However, in 1972 he renamed himself Mobutu Sese Seko Nkuku Ngbendu Wa Za Banga. His name meant "The all-powerful warrior who, because of his endurance and inflexible will to win, will go from conquest to conquest, leaving fire in his wake".
Former President of Uganda Idi Amin famously went by the title - His Excellency President for Life, Field Marshal Al Hadji Doctor Idi Amin, VC, DSO, MC, CBE, Lord of all the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Sea, and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular.
Recently, the the office the the Gambian President announced that another title was being added to the list of titles held by the president. According to an official release, the Gambian leader would now be known formally as "His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh Babili Mansa". Babili Mansa, in the Mandika language of the Gambia means Bridge Builder, or Conqueror of Rivers.
Could this be that Africans only attempt to emulate from the colonial master titles such as Sirs, Dukes, Duchess, Baroness, Viscounts, OBEs, CBEs etc etc? For instance, the official full title of the Head of State from which we got our independence is: Her Majesty, "Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith".
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