Jo M. Sekimonyo is a political economist, theorist, human rights activist, and social philosopher. Congolese born, American fermented and globally bottled, Sekimonyo, the self-styled "Merchant of Ideas," offers a critical perspective on contemporary economic discourse, challenging the superficial analyses of mainstream economists.
Sekimonyo introduced "Ethosism," a groundbreaking system that challenges the foundational principles of capitalism and socialism. His reinterpretation of the Labor Theory of Value posits that, in today's economy, the quality of resources within an enterprise—rather than mere labor hours—determines relative prices. This shift repositions labor from a cost center to a principal benefactor, reflecting its true value in the economic ecosystem. For him, the 21st century business cycle is caused by the maneuvers of developed countries to mitigate over-efficiency. The foregoing explanations are a subset of this.
His extensive body of work, which addresses economic injustice, poverty, and egalitarianism, has been translated into over ten languages. Sekimonyo underscores the role of human creativity and insight in combating poverty, leading workshops and seminars across the developing world to foster debate on global social issues and critique mainstream economic theories.
Beyond his theoretical contributions, Sekimonyo has crafted a model to eradicate global debt, focusing on the Global South's challenges. This work calls for a redefined mission for the IMF and World Bank to better address economic disparities.
As the founder of "En Charge," an independent, non-partisan organization, Sekimonyo promotes the engagement of young people in social, political, and economic discourse on both national and global stages. His recent endeavors include advocating for Ethosism as a credible alternative to capitalism.
In his home country, Sekimonyo’s attempt to secure a place on the ballot for the 2023 DRC presidential elections was unsuccessful. However, this setback has only strengthened his resolve to push for constitutional revisions in the DRC, aiming to advance social and economic justice and expand political participation.
"Socialism and Communism have failed, but now Capitalism is failing us."
Jo M. Sekimonyo
