Nigeria, Sept. 10 -- The idea of "people power" has become one of the defining currents of African politics in the 21st century. Across the continent, younger generations-disenchanted with corruption, inequality, and the failures of post-independence elites-are searching for leaders who can articulate their frustrations and translate them into action. Two figures stand out in this regard: Julius Malema in South Africa and Omoyele Sowore in Nigeria. Though they operate in very different political terrains, both embody the insurgent energy of people power, and both have unsettled governments that would rather have them silenced.

Malema's Radical Institutionalism

Julius Malema's trajectory illustrates what might be called "radical institut...