The point of this paper is to emphasizethe importance and role of leadership for African growth,development, and poverty reduction. It is also an attempt toproject a more objective assessment of leadership issuesduring the first three to four decades of Africanindependence. Agreeing on shared responsibilities forAfrica's failures in its early years will enable allwho want to take part in the continent's renewal tofocus on the partnership that is now needed to close a sadchapter in Africa's history, and open a new one. Thecore elements of such a partnership have evolved in the lastdecade, and this paper argues passionately for the politicalwill, in Africa and outside, for their realization.