Wealth Beyond Money
Wealth Beyond Money
By Carole Ayugi
In her latest reflection, Carole Ayugi steps back from the mechanics of wealth—how to acquire, grow, protect, govern, and pass it on—and asks a deceptively simple question: what is wealth? Drawing on African wisdom, personal insights, and the cautionary tale of Njenga Karume’s fortune, she challenges us to see wealth as more than money. Her essay explores wealth for individuals, families, and society at large, laying the foundation for conversations on legacy and sustainability.
What Is Wealth?
In this series, I have walked with you through the journey of wealth: how to acquire it, grow it, preserve it, protect it, pass it on, and govern it. Yet before we go further, we must pause and ask: what exactly is it that we are working so hard to manage?
“Wisdom is wealth” This proverb reframes the question. It tells us that what we call wealth is not just money or property but knowledge, discernment, and the values that give meaning to material possessions.
Beyond Money: The Full Spectrum of Wealth
For many, the word “wealth” calls to mind cash, investments, businesses, or land. And yes, those matter. But true wealth is broader. It includes health, peace of mind, family harmony, education, reputation, love, and even the freedom of time.
Is a fortune without peace really wealth? Is an inheritance without values truly a legacy?
Wealth Is in the Eye of the Beholder
Each person defines wealth differently. For some, it is financial independence—the freedom never to worry about bills. For others, it is the chance to educate children or build a thriving business. For others still, it is power, influence, or simply freedom over one’s time.
This subjectivity matters. Before families can preserve or pass on wealth, they must first define it for themselves.
The Two Faces of Wealth
Wealth has both tangible and intangible layers:
- Tangible: land, businesses, investments, property.
- Intangible: values, unity, goodwill, traditions, reputation.
Families that preserve only the tangible and neglect the intangible often see fortunes vanish within two or three generations. The assets may survive, but the wisdom to sustain them does not.
When Private Wealth Meets Public Good
We must also widen the lens. Wealth is not only personal or familial—it is societal. A truly wealthy society is one where prosperity is broad-based, justice is fair, peace is stable, and opportunities are shared.
If society is poor, unjust, or unstable, even the greatest private fortunes eventually crumble. Time and again, dynasties collapse when surrounded by social unrest, inequality, or weak institutions.
True wealth endures only where prosperity is shared, justice is fair, and institutions are strong. These are the foundations of sustainability—for families and for nations alike.
A Cautionary Tale: Karume’s Wealth in Court
The late businessman Njenga Karume left behind immense wealth—land, businesses, and political influence. Yet after his passing, his fortune became entangled in endless court battles. His children and beneficiaries fought bitterly over what was meant to unite them.
The tragedy is not just the disputes themselves but what they reveal: without clarity, inclusivity, and proper governance, wealth mutates from blessing to burden. What should empower generations risks being consumed by fees and fractured relationships.
If wealth cannot deliver peace to those it was meant to protect, can we truly call it wealth?
Measuring Wealth Without a Bank Balance
So let us pause and reflect: if all your possessions disappeared tomorrow, what would remain?
The deepest wealth is not what sits in bank accounts. It is what cannot be stolen, depleted, or divided—the values, wisdom, unity, and love we plant in others.
Preparing the Ground for Legacy and Sustainability
As we move forward into legacy charters & wills, and later conversations about sustainability, we must anchor ourselves in this truth: wealth is not merely what we hold in our hands. It is what we nurture, embody, and leave behind.
And as another African proverb warns: “When the fool is told wealth, he hears only money.” True wealth is larger. It is wisdom, love, unity, and values—those things no court battle can divide and no market cycle can erase. That is the wealth that secures not just a fortune, but a future—for families and for society.
If you would like further information, please feel free to reach out to Carole Ayugi on [email protected].
