9 Rev Pungula Wellington Dingani – Leadership in the Corinthian Church in Phepheni, Eastern Cape, South Africa NGTT DEEL 55, NO 1, 2014 Barnard, Marcel Protestant heological University (Amsterdam) Stellenbosch University Liturgical Studies, VU-University (Amsterdam) Nell, Ian Practical heology, Stellenbosch University Mbaya, Henry Stellenbosch University ABSTRACT Local leadership is crucial in Africa. his article focuses on leadership in African Independent Churches, more speciically on the leader of a local congregation of the Corinthian Church, Rev Dingani in Phepheni, Eastern Cape. he article is composed of two parts. he irst part is a portrait of Dingani, mainly from an emic (inside) point of view. Ater a biographical sketch, his ministry and liturgical leadership are outlined, followed by a portrait of Rev Dingani as a theologian. he second part, which mainly takes an etic (outside) stance, places this portrait in a wider context of leadership in African Independent Churches and sub-Saharan Africa as a whole. Ater indicating some general features of African leadership, the article focuses more speciically on two leadership styles: 1. he humane-oriented and charismatic/value-based style. 2. he participative and autonomous style. By distinguishing this emic and etic positions, we confront Western and African epistemologies, without reconciling them in advance.