Winky D, Patoranking Highlight Impact of Corrupt Leadership on Africa’s Poverty Crisis
By Arts Reporter
Reggae-Dancehall star Winky D and Nigerian artist Patoranking have released a new song called “Leadership” where Winky D strongly criticizes African leaders for stealing the continent’s minerals like lithium and selling them to foreign countries while the people remain poor.
He has criticized rigging elections to stay in power, using the Bible and Quran to hide their corruption, and living in luxury with big cars while ordinary citizens suffer, with the artist declaring that Africa’s real problem is not lack of development but exploit@tion by its own leaders who have failed to take care of their people like shepherds who cannot feed their sheep.
First, he says African leaders are stealing the continent’s valuable minerals. He specifically mentions lithium, which is used to make batteries for electric cars and phones.
Winky D sings that leaders are giving these minerals to Chinese and Indians while ordinary citizens suffer.
The new song by Zimbabwean reggae-dancehall legend Winky D featuring Nigerian superstar Patoranking is titled “Leadership”. Released on August 31, 2026, it is a headline track from Winky D’s highly anticipated pan-African album, “Tête-À-Tête (Hello Africa)”. The track was produced by Layan Souljah and engineered by Oskid.
“Leadership” is a powerful, politically conscious anthem addressing the governance crisis, exploitation, and economic hardships across Africa. Rather than blaming a lack of natural resources, the artists argue that Africa’s core issue is poor leadership and the systemic misuse of power.
Winky D directly targets resource exploitation and rigged elections with lines like, “Where is the chrome and the lithium? You give the Chinese and the Indians… Election for my people them rigged. Man we are not underdeveloped, we are over exploited”.
The Nigerian star backs this sentiment by questioning political elites who enjoy luxury vehicles (“Benzen and Beamers”) while ordinary citizens remain trapped in deep poverty.
The track employs the metaphor of a failed shepherd and their sheep, highlighting how society suffers when trusted leaders fail to serve their people.
