Book review: Cultural Confluence in Organizational Change: A Portuguese Venture in Angola

Louise Müller’s review of the book ‘Cultural Confluence’ by Alette Vonk (Leiden University) and Vasco Freitas Silva is published in the latest volume (2026 -17.2: 275-278) of African Journal of Economic and Management Studies by Emerald publishers as free reading material. The book is especially interesting for those who are fascinated by Ubuntu philosophy and management. This book examines the challenges of intercultural management in sub-Saharan Africa. It presents a case study of Vasco Silva, a Portuguese businessman who established a successful business in Luanda, Angola. After four years of growth, Silva encounters a culture shock due to a wild strike by his employees. He embarks on a deep cultural exploration using the Hofstede 6D model and the Toyota-management tool Genchi Genbutsu (go and see for yourself). Gradually, Silva gains an understanding of effective leadership in the Angolan context, unraveling important features of local culture and initiating an organizational change project. This work contributes to the ongoing discourse in African management literature, particularly regarding the integration of modern and contemporary traditional organizational and leadership concepts. It responds to the demand for descriptive accounts of hybrid case studies of confluencing cultures. Scholars of African management philosophy and business leaders can utilize this case study to explore indigenous African notions in a business setting, demonstrating the performative characteristics of local leadership forms and the adaptability required for success in foreign business environments See - Book review by L.F. Müller: Cultural Confluence in Organizational Change: A Portuguese Venture in Angola. Edited by Alette Vonk and Vasco Freitas Silva. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham 2024 XIX, 159 pp. Euro 49.04 ISBN: 978-3-031-45402-8. African Journal of Economic and Management Studies (2026) 17 (2): 275–278.