La figure du bon dirigeant politique en Afrique de l'Ouest (Côte d'Ivoire-Ghana) : une lecture anthropologique de la légitimité du pouvoir politique

This article offers an anthropological reading of the figure of the good political leader in West Africa, based on ethnographic fieldwork conducted in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. Drawing on testimonies from ordinary citizens across diverse social backgrounds, it highlights a popular conception of leadership rooted in moral, communal, and relational values: listening, honesty, proximity, justice, transparency, and responsibility. Far from imported technocratic or institutional models, political legitimacy is understood here as a living relationship between rulers and the ruled, anchored in local practices and cultural references (kankéléntigui, téléniya, tchiantigui). The article underscores the gap between this popular ideal and current political realities marked by corruption, authoritarianism, and personalization of power. It concludes by proposing ethical pathways for leadership renewal in Africa, based on citizen participation, accountability, inclusion, and a synthesis between African heritage and political modernity.