In How to be a dictator in Africa, writers Helon Habila and Dinaw Mengestu are remarkably positive about the future of their continent, despite the reservations of David van Reybrouck and moderator Andrew Makkinga.

Dinaw Mengestu shares his surname with the first name of one of Ethiopia's former dictators. "For now, I am a writer, but aspire to a career as a dictator," he says. Dictators do not arise in a vacuum, Mengestu argues. "We as citizens create our leaders," he says. In his recited story, citizens hand over all their dreams. They shift all their responsibility towards those in power. And that is where it goes wrong.

"Africa has long cherished the nostalgic idea of the Strong Man, who could bend the country to his will. But that no longer does justice to the current complexity of African societies. Democracy is more than just voting for the presidency, but is mostly about local, grassroots activism, and engagement with local politics. I see that happening more and more. And that is encouraging. Even though African dictators have managed to sabotage any form of state institutions through constant, deliberate underdevelopment - to hold all the strings themselves."

After reading a short, fragmentary passage from his unpublished novel A man of the people, the Nigerian writer hooks up Helon Habila in. " Democracy requires a 'full commitment' from citizens - agrees Habila. "In Africa, we have a nasty tendency to respect our elders too much and take their word as law. In a democracy, you have to constantly tussle, make noise and stand up for your rights. That simply takes time. Nigeria has only been independent for 50 years."

Habila cites a hopeful example from his home country. Nigeria's freshly elected president - with the telling name of Goodluck Jonathan - as the first act in office, immediately tried to extend his tenure for three years. But the people immediately came out in protest and the new head of state was cut short.

In his sarcastic tale, Fleming explains David van Reybrouck in ten short steps, how to rise to power as a dictator. And stay in power. The question is why no African Spring has yet broken out - given the success of the Arab variety. Van Reybrouck blames it on the lack of a substantial middle class, and activist uses of social media are also still relatively in their infancy in Africa. "Democracy is never finished. Not even in Europe. Just look at the catastrophes in Greece and Italy." According to Van Reybrouk, it is of great arrogance to think that the West can unleash its form of democracy, like a ready-made IKEA kit, on an African society. That is doomed to failure.

"Sometimes, though, it does take something like a 'benign' dictator to bring order," says Habila, with a demonic grin. "In Ghana, the newly elected president simply put all members of the old corrupt clique against the wall. Now it has become one of the most stable countries in Africa."

Moderator Andrew Makkinga shrugs his shoulders towards the audience: "Sometimes you just need a crook to catch a crook."