This paper reviews the affirmative action laws of Nigeria and South Africa and asks what the best way for businesses to respond to them is. The answer is that businesses have no choice but to obey the law, but by linking the changes required by the laws to common archetypes of change they can find optimal responses that both maximize shareholder value and boost organizational capabilities. We are also able to propose certain responses to the resistance that might arise to changes required by affirmative action laws. Key Words: Affirmative Action, Emerging Markets, Business in Africa, Business Laws, Managing Change.