This article argues that active citizenship as a quintessential norm of democracy is lacking in Africa. The colonial interlude in Africa created psychological and institutional confusion which undermined Africans’ ability to actively participate in governance, a phenomenon largely ignored by the current literature on democracy in Africa. To establish active citizenship, reconstructive training to create self-confidence and an economic empowerment programme is required. With psychological and institutional frameworks thus established, citizens can develop the confidence required to take the initiative of self-governance, and to collaborate in constructing their political destinies. A governance model that can ensure active citizenship in Africa is the baraza system of public participation. Domiciled at the village level, it ensures that every individual’s interests are addressed in decision-making, as it obligates every individual to participate in decision-making.

本文认为，非洲缺乏积极的公民身份作为民主的典型准则。非洲殖民时期的插曲造成了心理上和制度上的混乱，破坏了非洲人积极参与治理的能力，这一现象被当前有关非洲民主的文献大为忽略。为了建立积极的公民身份，需要进行重建性培训以建立自信心和制定经济赋权计划。通过建立这样的心理和体制框架，公民可以建立主动权和建立政治命运的合作所需的信心。可以确保非洲拥有积极公民身份的治理模式是巴拉萨公众参与制度。它以村庄为基地，确保每个人的利益都在决策中得到解决，因为它使每个人都有义务参与决策。