There's various ways in which one grows: physically (in terms of height and body size), intellectually (having to do with one's ability to synthesize already-acquired information and produce a well-advised solution to a given problem), and with that, many other forms of growth, some of which are very private to the individual and others that are more societal. Growth in Africa does include a number of areas, but it also lacks in others, and one in particular where it lacks is "growth in self.".

The term could be titled in a lot of different ways: "growth in self," as stated earlier, or "growth of self," or "growth of the individual." However you want to put it, it still pertains to a definition: an individual process of continuous development and evolution of personality, abilities, and understanding of oneself; it encompasses self-awareness, learning, and personal development.

This term is relatively new to the world, so it's understandable that Africans haven't yet incorporated it, as we tend to take time to accept things that are foreign to us.

The "growth in self" philosophy is one that takes us back to the individual and understands each's own uniqueness and attributes that make them stand out; it focuses on building a community where the individual stands confidently in themselves, allowing them to each help society from a place of strength and love.

The issue here is that this framework of thinking goes against the very principles that African society is built upon. African society is built on a community lifestyle, but at an extreme level of it. Here, it's quite the norm that who and what you are really are just tied down to what you or don't belong to.

Don't get me wrong, there's a beauty to the African communities, institutions, and cultures, but no matter how good something can be, its extremes would be detrimental. The extreme nature of our communal lifestyle leads to the shadowing of the individual. A number of times, you see situations where the individual voice is shut down by the collective; even a scream of injustice is advised to be kept quiet so the institutions survive.

I believe this is also one reason we occasionally get stuck in rigid structures and patterns that are destructive, sometimes referred to as self-sabotage,  because of our tendency to die down the voice of the individual for the community. A healthy society is one where the community is built around and for the individuals, because a community where the power exists in the individual is one where the voices of issues that disturb the individuals are heard and not only listened to but also solved.

In such a society, we are driven not just to question our patterns and institutions but also to improve them and build something that is for the individuals that reside in our society, building a society where the individual and society thrive, one where constant improvement can be seen on a mental, physical, and psychological plane.