Welcome back to the second season of Cues Corner! There’s so much we need to get answers to, don’t we? With Bruce’s imminent departure, Clarence getting a job, Becky and her awful dad… yep, there’s a whole lot we need to discover.

Well, that’s why this second season is here, so, let’s get into it!

The soft hum of conversations buzzed with excitement in a separate corner of Cues Corner, as the group of gentlemen, young and old, took their seats and awaited the beginning of this maiden MensTalk gathering; an idea Quincy had come up with a few weeks ago for a regular gathering of men to discuss pertinent issues concerning them. Many of the patrons and regular customers loved the idea when he first mentioned it, and were all for it, thus the reason for the healthy attendance.

Quincy, having completed his round of moving gracefully between tables and ensuring that every guest at the restaurant side felt welcomed and attended to, made his way to the front of the gathering, holding a microphone. He raised his hand, signaling for their attention.

“Hello? Yes, yes, how are you all doing, my distinguished gentlemen? I can see you’re all doing fine. We thank God for that. Thank you for joining us tonight for the maiden edition of Cues Corner’s Men’sTalk event!” Quincy’s voice resonated through the room, eliciting applause from the gathered men.

“We’re here to kick off something unique – MensTalk, a gathering for men to share their thoughts, experiences, and challenges in a supportive environment. As you already know, Cues Corner has always been more than just a restaurant; it’s a place where stories are shared, and friendships are forged. Tonight, we’re taking that spirit to the next level. And it’s a man’s thing, although of course, our sweet wives, sisters, mothers and girlfriends are always home to join us.

“To begin this journey, our inaugural speaker is someone we all know around here. In fact, the way we love him, eh!”

Cheers emanated from the group of men.

“You know,” Quincy continued, “the day I realised that squad loves this man paaa is the day that demon guy came to misbehave. When he saw Bishop seated and started shouting at him that he should leave here, na what is a bishop doing here? The way you guys were ready to beat him, eh, I saw that naaaa, this man has made an impact on us. Even some guys who don’t believe in God were ready to tear the guy apart for disrespecting him. Chale, this man is special! God truly is with him and is using him. So when the idea for this came up, there was no other person I thought of to begin this MensTalk thing.”

Applause followed, with cheers of ‘our bishop’ interspersed.

“So, without further ado, let’s welcome our esteemed speaker for the evening. A man of wisdom and experience! One whose insights and perspectives have resonated with many, and will definitely set the tone for many more meaningful conversations to come. Our one and only bishop, Bishop Gordon Godwin Eselali Tamakloe!”

The gathering clapped their hands and cheered as their favourite bishop rose to his feet and took center stage.

“Dearest gentlemen, thank you for this opportunity to speak to you this lovely evening. I know most of you are still annoyed by that useless showing by the Black Stars yesterday, and trust me, I am too.”

The gathering murmured with annoyance and contempt, confirming his statement.

He smirked and shook his head. “Chale, rubbish football paaa! A whole Black Stars, and you can’t even beat Cape Verde and Mozambique? Ahhhh! And they were once telling us to bring back the love? For this sankwas team? Tweakai! See, Didayy! I beg you, roast that football association of ours tomorrow!”

“Hmm! Bishop! More faya tomorrow ooo!” Deladem declared from his seat, to the amusement of those around him. “What we’re going to do tomorrow, eh. La-la-ee-lala!”

“Thank you, my fellow Efo! Make sure you guys tune in to their show, by the way. So, yes, for tonight, we’re going to discuss a crucial topic that has the power to shape the destiny of nations and foster sustainable development. That topic is the importance of transgenerational leadership in Africa. For a continent rich with history, diversity, and untapped potential, and for such a wealthy continent to succeed, the need for leaders who will prioritize the well-being of future generations cannot be overstated.”

The gathering now silent, everyone had their attention on the revered bishop as he began his speech.

“So… to begin, let’s draw inspiration from the timeless wisdom found in the Bible. Of course, as a man of God, you know that’s where I’m turning to. The Bible is replete with examples of transgenerational leadership, where leaders were not solely focused on their immediate gains but were deeply concerned about the legacy they left for their descendants.

“Gentlemen, you know how some people have this mindset of ‘I’ve suffered in this life, so the next generation too should come and suffer’? Yeah, take it from me, you’re a very big fool if that’s your way of thinking. If you open the book of Proverbs, the wise king Solomon implores leaders to think beyond their own lifetimes. Proverbs 13:22 says, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children”. This verse of wisdom underscores the importance of leaders considering the well-being of not just their own offspring but the generations that follow. It shouldn’t just be about you, it shouldn’t just be about your immediate children, it should be about the generations that follow after you. A true leader with this mindset ensures that the generations after him are in a good place to exceed what he has accomplished.

“One of my personal favourite examples of transgenerational leadership is none other than my spiritual father, Simeon Sarfo. Hmm, that man, eh… I’m currently writing a biography about him. The world shall surely hear his story. Anyways, one of the major things he did after obeying the call of God on his life was to set up a seminary, and that’s where a lot of men of God you know received their training, including yours truly.

“Now, one of the things that always stood out to me at the beginning of my time there was how often this man told us how true success in ministry is not measured by personal achievements, but by the impact one has on others. His joy was not in having a big auditorium full of people, but in having people submitted to Christ. People who found joy in spreading the Good News of Jesus’ sacrifice, and loving that Jesus they spoke about. He told us his mistakes, not only to remind us that he was human too, but to ensure we did far better than he had done. This topic is dear to me because if there’s anyone who lived out the idea that we are not only responsible for leading in our own time, but also for preparing the next generation to lead even more effectively than we ever could, it’s the late, great Simeon Sarfo.”

The gathering was fully attentive and listening to the bishop as he continued with his speech.

“So, we also have the story of Joseph in the Book of Genesis as a powerful illustration of leadership that transcends generations. So when he appeared before the Pharaoh to interpret those dreams, he told the ruler that, look, within the next 7 years of abundance, make sure that enough is stored up for the 7 years of famine. Through his foresight and prudent governance, he ensured the survival and prosperity of his people during times of famine.

“And of course, as far as leaders with the transgenerational mindset go, there’s none who stands out more than my Master. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Consider what He did for us: dying on the cross of Calvary so we could be reconciled to the Father. That spans across generations upon generations. And here’s the important part: it wasn’t just for Israel. It was for all of us. Everyone. Remember that the Gentiles were not supposed to be part of God’s people; the covenant was between Yahweh and the house of Israel. But thanks to the Cross, He is not just a Father to Jews, but people of all nations. Every tribe, every tongue, every nation, has access to Elohim by virtue of being washed by the blood of Jesus. Brothers, this is the most perfect example of transgenerational leadership I can give you.”

***

Twenty minutes in, and Bishop Gordon had finished his first part of his speech.

“Now, as we reflect on the significance of transgenerational leadership and its importance in our society, here’s a question I have that has a very obvious answer. Can we say that the average contemporary African leader has fully embraced this ethos?”

Stifled laughs and chants of ‘No’ echoed throughout the room.

Bishop Gordon smiled wryly and shook his head. “It’s unfortunate, isn’t it? Too often, our leaders prioritize short-term gains, personal enrichment, and political maneuvering at the expense of the long-term interests of their nations. Speaks volumes why we tend to be so far behind. You look at the Asian tigers and their major developments, some European countries and their basic amenities, and you really marvel at how far back we are.

“Corruption, nepotism, a lack of strategic planning… all these have hindered the development of many African countries. Unfortunately, most of our leaders have failed to properly prioritize education, healthcare, and sustainable economic policies, which has badly jeopardized the well-being of future generations. And we see the consequences of such failures felt in our society, don’t we? Poverty, social unrest, and missed opportunities for progress. All the while, their families flourish the way the average citizen should.

“Dear gentlemen, it is essential that we not only demand a shift in leadership paradigms, but work towards causing that shift. African nations need leaders who are not only concerned with the challenges of today but who also possess the foresight to address the challenges of tomorrow, and simply whining about that won’t change things, taking action will. And here are some important things we can do to see this happen. I’ve taken quite a bit of time, and I’d like to take some questions, so I’ll speak on two major things.

“Firstly, we must cultivate a culture of service and stewardship, where leadership is seen not as a position of power but as a responsibility to serve the greater good. It’s a problem the way we look at leadership as a way to become bosses. We get positions, and we feel like we are on top of the world. We walk around, shoulders up, noses in the air, telling people ‘do you know who I am’ and the like. Gentlemen, that is not what leadership is about. As a leader, your task is be a servant to those you lead.

“That’s what Jesus told us, and He embodied that Himself. The Lord of all creation washed the feet of His disciples. Guys, remember in those times, they walked long distances through dusty and muddy places, so these men’s feet were extremely dirty. That was a messy little job, but Jesus did that job Himself. Just to show us what leadership is like. It’s not about feeling bigger than you are and lording it over people, but it’s about serving them. If we recognize this and fully imbibe it, we’ll take up political positions and remember it’s not about motorcades and useless titles, but about working to ensure the people we work for have a better life, and live accordingly.

“And also, we should work assiduously to properly educate the generations behind us. It’s critical to invest in educational systems that don’t just impart book knowledge as we’ve always known, but also cultivate critical thinkers. People with a sense of global citizenship. The time of churning out people who just got by with ‘chew and pour’ tactics has to end. We need to create systems that empower the generations behind us to become leaders in their own right, so we can ensure that the torch of leadership is passed on to capable hands.

“To conclude, let me give you this quote by Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner in their book ‘The Leadership Challenge’: “Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge.” This is what we need in our nations, leaders who actually do the work in taking care of those in their charge. Leaders who embrace and passionately pursue a vision that extends beyond their own time in office.

“So my prayer is that we begin doing the work now. I don’t think it’s any secret that our leaders have failed in this stead, but instead of complaining, we need to get the work done, so we can look back in years to come, and be proud that we’ve built a legacy of prosperity, unity, and progress for generations to come. Thank you very much.”

Rapturous applause greeted the bishop as his speech came to an end.

“Now, it’s time for questions, contributions… anything you want to say in relation to this topic. Let’s talk.”

***

Thirty more minutes of passionate, insightful discussions later, and MensTalk’s first meeting had come to a successful end.

As the gathering dispersed, everyone satisfied with what had been a wholesome and impactful meeting, Quincy shook hands with Bishop Gordon. “Thanks so much, Bishop. This worked out better than I imagined. Everyone definitely benefited from that. This is definitely going to augur well.”

“Oh, yes, yes, definitely. And you’re welcome, Cues. You know I’m more than happy to impart knowledge to my fellow men. We need it, more spaces for us to talk about serious matters and how we can move this world forward. So chale, let’s keep it going. Let’s keep it going. You can always count on me to show up for you.”

Well, we kick off with some heavy education from the bishop! All on point, though. Now let’s see what’s happening with our major squad…