Abstract in isiZulu Sixoxa ngemithelela yezimo zase-Afrika ebuholini besistimu yokudla kanye nemizamo yokugqugquzela ubuholi obunjalo. Uma sicabangela kokubili izici ezibonakalayo nezingokomfanekiso zamafa obukoloni, sisebenzisa umbono we-Afropolitanism ukuze sigcizelele isidingo sezimpendulo ezingapheli ezinseleleni zesistimu yokudla yase-Afrika; sihlanganisa izinto eziza kuqala endaweni kanye nolwazi lwendabuko nobudlelwano bomhlaba kanye nolwazi lwesayensi “lwaseNtshonalanga”. Ukuzulazula ukungezwani phakathi kwezindlela ezahlukahlukene zokwazi naphakathi kwezintshisekelo ezahlukahlukene, abaholi kumele badinge ukuzibandakanya phinde futhi bakhuthaze inkhulumomphendvulwano ebucayi. Sisebenzisa le ngxoxo ukuze sincome isethi yamakhono obuholi, sihlanganise nemithelela yokufundisa neye-Afrika. Okokugcina, sichaza umkhankaso wokuguqula uhlelo lwendawo lokudla ukuze sibonise ukuthi ubuholi besistimu yokudla bukhuthazwa kanjani hhayi nje kuphela emizamweni yokuthuthukisa ubuholi kodwa nasemizamweni engokoqobo, egxilile endaweni. Abstract in English We discuss the implications of African contexts for food system leadership and for efforts to foster such leadership. Considering both material and symbolic aspects of colonial legacies, we use the notion of Afropolitanism to emphasise the need for endogenous responses to African food system challenges, combining local priorities and Indigenous knowledge with global relationships and “Western” scientific knowledge. To navigate the tensions between diverse ways of knowing and between different interests, leaders need to engage in and foster critical dialogue. We use this discussion to recommend a set of leadership capabilities, including pedagogical and African contextual implications. Finally, we describe a local food system transformation initiative to show how food system leadership is fostered not only in dedicated leadership development efforts but also in practical, locally embedded efforts.