Prelims

Half Title Page

Casebook of Indigenous Business Practices in Africa

Endorsements

The book ‘Casebook of Indigenous Business Practices in Africa’ has been long-awaited and stands out as one of the few publications that examines the origin and impact of African culture on successful business practices. This book provides a comprehensive depiction of the cultural characteristics, challenges, and orientations that have shaped successful African business practices. It articulates the enduring degree of timeless accomplishments identified across different segments, despite the interjection of Western approaches. Therefore, I highly recommend this book not only to scholars, but also to anyone who wishes to gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of Africa's dynamic indigenous business methods.

Dr. Clara Agomuonso, Chief Operations Officer, FirstBank Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Title Page

Casebook of Indigenous Business Practices in Africa: Trade, Production and Financial Services – Volume 2

Edited by

Ogechi Adeola

Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University, Nigeria; University of Kigali, Rwanda

United Kingdom – North America – Japan – India – Malaysia – China

Copyright Page

Emerald Publishing Limited

Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley BD16 1WA, UK

First edition 2023

Editorial matter and selection © 2023 Ogechi Adeola.

Individual chapters © 2023 The authors.

Published under exclusive licence by Emerald Publishing Limited.

Reprints and permissions service

Contact: permissions@emeraldinsight.com

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without either the prior written permission of the publisher or a licence permitting restricted copying issued in the UK by The Copyright Licensing Agency and in the USA by The Copyright Clearance Center. Any opinions expressed in the chapters are those of the authors. Whilst Emerald makes every effort to ensure the quality and accuracy of its content, Emerald makes no representation implied or otherwise, as to the chapters' suitability and application and disclaims any warranties, express or implied, to their use.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN: 978-1-80455-763-1 (Print)

ISBN: 978-1-80455-762-4 (Online)

ISBN: 978-1-80455-764-8 (Epub)

Dedication

To Dayo and Tochi Adeola, the strokes of many pens are insufficient to describe my deep appreciation for your love, support and encouragement as I envisioned and then embarked on this journey of documenting indigenous business practices for posterity and a sustainable future in Africa. Daalu! E se!

About the Contributors

Ifedapo Adeleye is a Professor of the Practice at Georgetown University, USA. He has undertaken research on the banking industry in Africa in the areas of internationalisation strategy and human capital management, and recently guest-edited a special issue of Africa Journal of Management on financial institutions management. He received his PhD in Management from The University of Manchester, UK, and an MS in International Economics Banking and Finance from Cardiff University, UK.

Ogechi Adeola is a Professor of Marketing and the Head of Department of Operations, Marketing and Information Systems at the Lagos Business, Pan-Atlantic University, Nigeria. In addition, she serves as a member of the Governing Board of University of Kigali, Rwanda. Adeola’s multi-dimensional research focuses on advancing knowledge across the intersection of marketing, entrepreneurship, tourism, and gender. Her co-authored articles won Best Paper Awards at international conferences for four consecutive years (2016–2019). She is a 2016 Visiting International Fellow, Open University Business School, UK, a 2017 Paul R. Lawrence Fellow, USA, and a recipient of the 2022 Female Achievers Recognition Award in Nigeria. She is the Editor of the 2020 book, ‘Indigenous African Enterprise – the Igbo Traditional Business School (I-TBS)’, published by Emerald Publishing Limited.

Adedeji Adewusi currently works as a Researcher at Lagos Business School Sustainability Centre, Pan-Atlantic University (formerly Pan-African University), and a research fellow at the Institut Français de Recherche en Afrique/French Institute for Research in Africa. Adedeji is a recipient of the LAPO Institute and International Centre for Tax and Development (ICTD) UK research grants. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in Sociology. Adedeji's primary research interest revolves around indigenous entrepreneurship, informal economy, governance and their connection with the Sustainable Development Goals. He has published in both local and international journal outlets.

Isaiah Adisa is a management researcher and consultant based in Nigeria. He has co-edited book(s) and several other book chapters and journal articles in recognised outlets. His research interests cuts across human resources management, organizational behaviour, marketing, and gender studies. His consultancy experience spans education, IT and health sector. Isaiah was part of the Sector Master Plan Strategy (a team member of Tourism and Hospitality Industries Thematic Group -THITG) for the Nigeria Economic Summit Group. He is currently a Research Assistant at the Lagos Business School, Pan- Atlantic University, Nigeria.

Emeka Raphael Agu currently works as a Research Assistant at Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University, Nigeria. As a Research fellow, he has worked with several faculty members in teaching and research-related activities and has published academic papers in top scholarly journals. His research interests include strategic management, public policy and leadership.

Olayinka Akanle (PhD) is a Lecturer and Senior Research Associate in the Department of Sociology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and University of Johannesburg, South Africa, respectively. Olayinka is an analytically ingenious development sociologist with interests covering research clusters of international migration and diaspora, gender, family and sexuality, child and youth, governance and environment, epistemology and knowledge production, conflict, crime and security, health and medicine. Olayinka has authored, edited and co-edited several journal articles and academic books.

Deogratias Bugandwa Mungu Akonkwa holds a PhD in Economics and Management from the Solvay Brussel School of Economics and Management, ULB, and an advanced Masters in Management Sciences from Louvain School of Management (UCLouvain, Belgium). He also has a Certificate in Governance and Management of Microfinance Institutions (Boulder Institute of Microfinance – ILO/Turin); and in Statistics and Data analysis. He has extensive experience in the governance/management of higher education and microfinance institutions. He is also a teacher-researcher and an expert in financial inclusion, gender and women autonomisation, data analysis, market studies, project evaluation and the conduct of high-level scientific studies. He has published and acted as a reviewer for international journals.

Didier Van Caillie holds a PhD in Business Administration (ULiège) and is a Full Professor of Management Control Systems and Performance Management at the University of Liège in Belgium (HEC-Liège). Since 1997, he has been chief of the Service of Diagnosis and Control of the Firm attached to the University of Liège. His research is focussed on the study of the design of management control systems and safety, risk and performance management systems of various types of firms such as high-tech industrial SMEs (specifically, in high-tech spin-offs) and in not-for-profit organisations such as Healthcare institutions, etc. In 2001, he founded the Research Center on Corporate Performance. He has published in peer-reviewed journals and attended international conferences on Management Control and Business Process Management. He is also an Administrator or Independent Administrator in many organisations and small firms.

Edidiong Esara is a case writer at Lagos Business School (LBS), Pan Atlantic University, Nigeria. Before joining LBS in January 2021, he was PR head of Ritman University for five years and winner of that institution's ambassadorial honour, after being a newspaper editor. He studied Mass Communication, winning the University of Nigeria's 2010 award for the best graduating student in Reporting, plus two other laurels. A passionate teacher and writer, he has mentored young writers to award-winning status.

Prince Gyimah is a Lecturer in Accounting at Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development and a PhD candidate at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana. His research scholarships include sustainable development goals, small businesses, rural entrepreneurship, accounting, finance and general business management.

Oserere Ibelegbu is a Management Scholar Academy-Research Assistant at Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University, Nigeria. She obtained a master's degree in Information Science and a bachelor's degree in Economics, both from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. She has academic publications (journal and book chapter contributions in the areas of, consumer behaviour, customer service and service quality, digital technologies, informal economy, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and tourism, among others). Her current area of interest spans customers' reactions or responses to emerging technologies such as AI-induced service robots.

Patricia Isabirye has over 15 years' experience working in the non-profit and private sector in the East and Horn of Africa. She has a PhD in Leadership and a Master's in Leadership in Emerging Countries from the College of Business and Economics at the University of Johannesburg, an MSc in Development Studies from Aalborg University, Denmark and a Bachelor's degree in Mass Communication from Makerere University, Uganda. Patricia is currently the Chief of Staff of Adeso and a Research Associate with the University of Johannesburg. Patricia has authored and co-authored scholarly articles and book chapters and presented at global conferences.

Ishmael Obaeko Iwara is a Post-Doctoral Scholar at the Graduate School of Business and Leadership, University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. Iwara's research interests are Afrocentric entrepreneurship models and pathways, social entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial university, as well as rural and regional economic development. He is a rated scholar by the National Research Foundation of South Africa and has been involved in various research initiatives. His research leadership history among others includes being a Chapter Coordinator of an EDTEA-funded project on social entrepreneurship, manager of an NRF-funded project on social entrepreneurship and innovation, Co-applicant of a Swedish bank-funded project on informal credit systems and entrepreneurial development – SASUF, as well as co-principal investigator of an internally funded project on social cohesion.

Abdul Karim Kafoir is a Sierra Leonean, who currently works as the Assistant Head of the Legal Unit at LAPO-SL Microfinance Company Limited. He also lectures Business Administration, SMEs and IP Strategy and Law at the College of Travel and Tourism Studies. He holds an MBA from the Institute of Public Administration and Management, USL and obtained a master's degree in Intellectual Property from Africa University, Zimbabwe. Kafoir holds degrees in Law and History and Political Science from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, and a Diploma in IP Management Strategies from the National Institute of Small Micro Enterprises, Hyderabad.

Marcellin Chirimwami Luvuga is a PhD Student in Management Sciences at the Catholic University of Bukavu (UCB, Democratic Republic of the Congo). He holds an advanced Masters in Management Sciences from the same university and a Master's degree in Financial Management from the State University of Bukavu (UOB). He is specialising in Small and Medium Entreprises' Control and Management Practices and is a consultant on fiscality of organisations in the DRCongo.

Mohammed Majeed is a Lecturer (PhD) at Tamale Technical University, Tamale-Ghana. His current research interest includes branding, hospitality and tourism, and social media in service organisations. Majeed holds a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), MPhil and MBA Marketing, Postgraduate Diploma, HND Marketing. He lectures part-time in many Ghanaian public universities and is a reviewer for many journals in management, hospitality and marketing. Majeed has also published in reputed journals such as Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights (Emerald) and Cogent Business & Management (Taylor & Francis).

Felix Adamu Nandonde is a Senior Lecturer in Marketing at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), Tanzania, with more than 26 publications and has co-edited a book titled Supermarket Retailing in Africa published by Routledge. He holds a PhD in Business Economics, Aalborg University, Denmark, an MSc in Food Marketing, Newcastle University upon Tyne, UK, and a BBA in Marketing, Mzumbe University, Tanzania. He worked with the National Bank of Commerce (NBC) in 1997 and the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries in Tanzania from 2018 to 2020.

Belinda Nwosu (FIH) is a faculty member of the Organisational Behaviour and HRM department at Lagos Business School. Her main research interests centre around tourism in emerging economies and the human person in business contexts. To date, she has explored gender, HR leadership, sustainable HRM and governance in tourism; employee work ethic and behaviour and service climate. She has several journal and book chapter publications, including the first comprehensive study on human capital development in the hotel industry in Nigeria.

Babalola Josiah Olajubu (MBPsS) is a psychologist and the head of the psychology unit at the American University of Nigeria. His research cuts across areas of personality, consumer behaviour, Afrocentric business practices and savings culture. Most of his research is conducted using a mixed-method research approach.

Lillian Zippora Omosa (PhD) is the director of Afripreneur Consulting Services, a research and education firm specializing in financial inclusion. She has carried out research on the financial literacy of Micro, Small, and Medium women-owned enterprises in Kenya. Lillian is an accountant, financial strategist, researcher, and university lecturer experienced in leading and executing educational programmes, including developing and implementing financial literacy and governance and leadership training programmes. Her background includes decades of experience in the financial management of projects funded by global funds, the World Bank and USAID, specifically in the financial management of contracts and grants. Current research interests include financial literacy, financial inclusion, Africana Womanism, culturally relevant business practices and participatory action research methods.

Adiza Sadik is an Associate Professor of Hospitality at Tamale Technical University, the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM). She obtained her PhD in Hospitality Management from Sheffield Hallam University in the United Kingdom. Sadik is currently the Dean of the Institute of International Programmes and Institutional Linkages (IPIL). Her research interest includes Hospitality and Tourism, Food Technology, Employability, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, and Gender-related areas.

List of Contributors

Preface

Indigenous knowledge, long embedded in Africa's business practices, has been attracting interest in recent years as a valuable resource towards the growth and advancement of the African economy. The continent's long history of entrepreneurial trade, production and financial services is evident in cultural and economic clusters and social networks. Africa's diverse history and culture differ not only across regions but also among nations in the same region and even between communities in the same country. The social networks of indigenous business ideas, educational systems and financial management through which identities are established are held together by the culture and customs of each ethnic community. Within this diversity of cultures and traditions are some fundamental commonalities, such as principles of brotherhood, humanity and community support. If properly harnessed, these forms of social capital can propel economic growth and sustainability in the continent. Ubuntu is a primary example of a traditional African concept that embodies these important attributes.

This second part of a two-volume edited book explores Africa's indigenous knowledge and business practices in production, trade and financial services that drive the development of the continent. Case studies provide insights into unique indigenous business methods that can be adopted, innovated or incorporated into modern-day business systems. The importance of indigenous African practices as workable business applications tools is presented to business actors, financial institutions, foreign enterprises, regional governments, policymakers and other stakeholders, based on case study findings reported in these chapters:

Indigenous Black Soap (Ọsẹ Dúdú) in Southwest Nigeria

Preparation for Business Negotiation at the Livestock Auction Market in Tanzania: The Case of Maasai Livestock Traders

Sustainability of Indigenous Butchery Business in Ghana

What is Peculiar in the Sustainability Practices of Indigenous Female Business Owners in Uganda?

Control/Management Practices and Performance of Small Congolese Enterprises

The Ecosystem of Indigenous Savings and Credit Associations in Sierra Leone

Structure of Indigenous Savings Groups in Nigeria: Cases and Implications for Business Actors

Exploring the Financial Literacy of a Chama Women’s Group in Rural Western Kenya

Rotating Stokvel Model for Entrepreneurial Success in South Africa: Validation of Constructs From a Case Study

Internationalisation of Indigenous Agribusiness in Africa: The Case of JR Farms in Rwanda and Zambia

African and foreign scholars will discover how some of the continent's unique indigenous business models have been incorporated into the curricula of business schools in Africa and around the world. New or expanding enterprises aiming to enter or grow in the African market will find useful reference guides for developing sustainable businesses that appreciate and comply with cultural practices, enabling them to create unique value for consumers. The book also identifies the role of business actors in developing indigenous business orientations while offering carefully considered suggestions for all stakeholders – government, educational institutions, entrepreneurs and researchers. The significant contribution of each chapter is to advance knowledge about the economic and social value of indigenous practices in Africa. However, any progress that can be made towards achieving this goal must begin with a clear conviction among Africans that indigenous practices embedded in their culture are valuable and should be leveraged.

Acknowledgement

The editor acknowledges all the authors who embarked on this journey with her to document the indigenous processes, practices and business heritage across Africa, for posterity and to portray the uniqueness of the continent's indigenous enterprises. Thank you for this critical step towards establishing Africa-centric business models through the identification of traditional prototypes and sustainable practices embedded in culture, norms and values.