When I became a man, I put away my toy gun

The Congo’s thieving strongman Mobutu Sese Seko had a unique hat, suit, and stick.

However, because he was so despised, he has not been emulated.

Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta had his flywhisk, and Daniel arap Moi, the rungu (staff).

In addition to his military uniforms and guns, Museveni will often carry a big stick, and at his farm he will have a double-headed spear.

The African Big Man needs to have his hands full of props in order to continuously reproduce the feeling that he is holding on.

Also, because they rule in developing societies with large rural populations that are still superstitious, the people usually believe that magic powers reside in their flywhisks and spears.

That usually translates into a large body of peasant fear and obedience, and therefore, precious political capital.

It is an old-fashioned approach, but nevertheless represents an important element of continuity in the continent’s politics.

Charles Onyango-Obbo is executive editor of the Nation Media Group’s Africa Media division; cobbo@nation.co.ke