Song about a leader of Africa being a curse (8)
I believe the answer is:
anathema
'curse' is the definition.
(anathema is a kind of curse)
'song about a leader of africa being a' is the wordplay.
'song' becomes 'anthem' (anthem is a kind of song**).
'about' is an insertion indicator.
'a leader of' indicates taking the first letters.
'being a' becomes 'a'.
The first letter of 'africa' is 'a'.
'anthem' going around 'a' is 'anathem'.
'anathem'+'a'='ANATHEMA'
(Other definitions for anathema that I've seen before include "Object of abhorrence" , "Detested person or thing - excommunication" , "Person or thing that's abhorred" , "Something very greatly disliked" , "Bete noire" .)