In 1968, the Ghanian writer Ayi Kwei Armah published a pioneering political novel called The Beautyful Ones are Not yet Born. Long before others, he foresaw the ineptitude, lust, and cruelty of many postcolonial African leaders. He scathingly described that this crop of politicians “were senile before they were born” to underscore their covetousness no matter how injurious their deeds were to our people...