The concept of ubuntu has been bandied about quite freely and mostly carelessly by writers who associate the term with the language in which it often appears. Ubuntu is bigger, broader and deeper than its Nguni “appearance”.
I do not recall ever reading or hearing anyone say that ubuntu means that black people are morally, ethically and so forth better people than whites or any other racial categories. Ubuntu is definitely not about colour or categories of any kind. Anyone who puts it down to skin is either intentionally twisting their understanding of ubuntu or talking about something else.
Granted, there are some really great challenging thoughts that Sandile Memela has thrown around in his rather long piece titled: “‘Ubuntu’, the inherent goodness of blacks and (d)evil whites“. I fully agree with Sandile and comments from Thought Leader readers that people’s evil or goodness has absolutely nothing to do with their skin colour. Now that we are clear on that, I will share with you below what my understanding of ubuntu is.
I can see why ubuntu can easily be regarded as mythical and idealistic by those who do not understand it. The same response can be had from those among us too lazy to find out what it really is, and what it is all about, or those who find it too easy to latch on to easy misconceptions that serve their beliefs or arguments about such ideas or ideals — or about anything originating from so-called “dark” Africa. I will explain (again) what ubuntu is, and give definitions from some of our heroes who not only teach ubuntu to others, but also practise and live it every day.
To start with, ubuntu is best understood experientially, as lived and experienced, and not merely conceptually and as intellectual debate. I am not surprised that it is easy to garner a vocal chorus of agreement to some of Sandile’s statements where his contribution seems unfortunately to reduce ubuntu to the shallow and myopic interpretation of its meaning that black people claim a higher moral ground over anyone else out there. It is a misrepresentation of what ubuntu is about. Black or white people doing nasty stuff has got nothing to do with ubuntu.
The basic Nguni description of ubuntu is simply this: “Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu [I am who I am because of others around me; I am because we are].”
Let me say this again: ubuntu has absolutely nothing to do with skin colour.
Issues of black people winning BEE tenders and driving expensive cars or ignoring their poor relatives is a totally different topic. But if we were to pull it into the discussion, I would argue that in fact this (poor family/moral values) illustrates what happens when ubuntu is eroded or replaced by the greed and “individualisation” of everything that we all know characterises Western civilisation. This is the same civilisation that has given us so much good in human advancement in some aspects of our lives, and all the technology that we are using. The important thing to remember is that there is always another side to every good development, and a price to pay down the line.
“Africans have a thing called ubuntu; it is about the essence of being human, it is part of the gift that Africa is going to give to the world. It embraces hospitality, caring about others, being willing to go that extra mile for the sake of another. We believe that a person is a person through other persons; that my humanity is caught up and bound up in yours. When I dehumanise you, I inexorably dehumanise myself. The solitary human being is a contradiction in terms, and therefore you seek to work for the common good because your humanity comes into its own in community, in belonging.”
Another helpful understanding of ubuntu is that it is “about individual behaviour, group behaviour and community values, and is the cultural bedrock from which our common humanity springs” … not just black people, but all of us.
When we reduce ubuntu to some blacks saying that they own ubuntu as a result of their blackness, then we risk misleading those among us who do not yet grasp the inherent goodness that is in all of us as a collective, which is what ubuntu is about. Extensive research on the subject has shown that ubuntu behaviours and practices are common across the African continent and beyond, but mainly inherent among Africans of all shades and groupings.
Apparently you can also find similar behaviours among communities in Asia and Latin America. Each community has its variety of acknowledged and “aspired to” group behaviours. The African version is typical and endemic to Africa, and its distinctive quality and special emphasis on the value of the collective is heightened more than elsewhere. The manner in which traditional meetings were/are run, for example, using lekgotla principles, where there is respect for each person when taking turns to speak, is a great illustration of valuing everyone.
Of course, we cannot romanticise everything traditional; at least we should take the great ideas whose lack today accounts for most of the moral decay that we find among ourselves, especially among our youth.
Ubuntu intelligence emphasises the acknowledgement of our strength as a collective, and not as individuals chasing disparate goals, or going after separation, or stressing differentiating dreams that are not hooked to our common value and worth either as a nation or as another collective that serves us all. Ubuntu builds nations.
Another beloved hero, Nelson Mandela, has also put his voice across in promoting the value of Ubuntu, especially in business. He said:
“Ubuntu in business can help bridge gaps between people in the workplace, stakeholders within and outside the enterprise, [between] businesses and the broader society in which they operate. As a uniquely African moral philosophy, ubuntu belongs in business life on this continent, just as it does in our political and social lives. Ubuntu promotes cohabitation: the tolerance and acceptance of all races and creeds in the human household … Ubuntu reminds people in the household [and in organisations] that they are all part of the greater human family and that all depend on each other. It promotes peace and understanding.” (In foreword to a book called Let Africa Lead, written by Reuel Khoza).
Sandile’s TL post carries many great ideas, brave and courageous statements too, from a black man in today’s South Africa. While I congratulate Sandile on the message he is sending out to those black people among us who claim a moral high ground while behaving otherwise, I would like to invite TL readers who swallowed whole everything Sandile said to chew on it a bit more, and then dig deeper on this subject and not reduce it to mere postulations that perpetuate its misunderstanding and reduce it to colour. It is much, much more than that.
The brilliant irony in Sandile’s message is what it says to South Africans who live in enclosed laagers in their minds, in community and/or other group configurations, and those who apparently own and appropriate what and who is right and/or wrong among us as a nation. Yes, we have to have standards, and none of us should stand for the utter debauchery, hatred and levels of criminal activity that we experience.
We will all do ourselves a whole lot of collective good when we start seeing beyond the colour of crime and criminals; when we see that it does not matter what colour the criminal or the victim is; when we not only condemn every crime with equal measure, but also act to highlight and raise our collective awareness to our collective strength and wisdom to deal with whatever we face.
That will be the day when we are all really grown up. I have said before that it is easy to poke holes and tear at anything that anyone else says, especially if it does not feed the insatiable hunger we have for negative news about how terrible things are. We feed on the negative news and we are fed upon in return, and the vicious cycle goes on. Enjoy your fix for the day, and I bet it will be in one (or three!) of the dailies’ headlines. It is what we created, and what we continue to reproduce, collectively.
Ubuntu says that we are in this shit together, and we will be better able to deal with it and thrive in our effort when we reach out to each other, hold hands and walk this journey together, towards a better future for our children. It is about seeing other people for who they are, and not how we would like them to be.
As noted already, ubuntu is best understood experientially. It has nothing to do with the colour of the wrapping that you and I come in. Reducing it to that is an unfortunate misunderstanding of this great philosophy of life that has massive global appeal which is growing every day.
It will be a sad day when we wake up to find ourselves invited to attend workshops on ubuntu principles conducted by Americans and Englishmen who happen to have taken on ubuntu and are lapping it up as the best thing to come out of Africa and exactly what the world needs … and we are busy pissing on each other instead.
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36 Responses to “(Mis)understanding ubuntu: A reply”
I enjoyed this. Whilst I understood what Sandile was saying in his post, this is a welcome and eloquent elaboration on the concept of ubuntu and compliments what he was saying very well.
Thanks for replying to Sandile Memela. He does not know what he speaks of. For the first time in my life I have heard of this definition of ubuntu. He definition is just wrong. And he was foolish to post that blog.
YOU, of course, are the great expert on “ubuntu,” of course. My little contribution on this very complex subject is based on what I have experienced and observed in the Abantu community.
You will agree with me that in the South Africa context - where race supposedly determines everything - you find, largely, TWO groups:
1) Abantu - black people. Of course, this entails being born or growing up with certain moral characteristic.
2) Abelungu - white people. When you change from being “umuntu,” you become umlungu which has got its own connotations which include selfishness, greed, evil.
Considering this grouping according to ‘race,’ it suggests that, as you quote Nelson Mandela, Ubuntu is “a uniquely African moral philosophy.”
I do not quiet understand what your problem is with my understanding, interpretation and/or definition of the concept.
I guess we can agree to disagree on some issues. I am even willing to conceed that probably you know better. But there is nothing with me giving an opinion based on factual reality, neh?
“It will be a sad day when we wake up to find ourselves invited to attend workshops on ubuntu principles conducted by Americans “: So sad so true, our 12 year old child in the house ( Xhosa by birth ), having been brought up in “fromally white” school is trying his best to be a westernized individual, while myself (German by birth ) am trying to teach him african cultural values ( with desperation and lettile success )..
so we are already there… what to do ?
Agreed on your definition of ubuntu BUT why then does a leading african organisation like the ANC NOT have ubuntu as the cornerstone of its policies. Why does the ANC talk about and practice northern hemisphere concepts of socialism, communism and individual liberalism.
Surely if ubuntu was so good and so african the ANC and any other african political party for that matter would have it as their first point of reference.
Why would the Americans, Europeans or Asians adopt something when africans don’t ‘practice what they preach’.
Maybe someone should start an ‘ubuntu’ political party.
I have been trying to understand what ubuntu means, with little success. I’m grateful for both this and Sandile’s insights. But this still begs the question: why do I battle to find ubuntu? If it really exists, why do I not see it displayed? I’ve been horrified at the behaviour of blacks towards blacks since I first worked with them in 1987. “They CAN wait” is the overwhelming attitude to solving problems for fellow blacks. Help!
Thank you for this post, after reading Sandile’s post I was appalled and terrified, both that I had clearly got ubuntu all wrong and the meaning, as per Sandile, as was set out in his post. It is so good to hear people beginning to talk again in a positive manner, my feeling of ubuntu was expressed perfectly when you said:
>’ “… about individual behaviour, group behaviour and community values, and is the cultural bedrock from which our common humanity springs” … not just black people, but all of us. ‘
This general malaise affecting South Africans today will disperse once we begin talking and acting appropriately, and once we begin to take responsibility for our actions and current situation. This must come from the top though doesn’t it? As long as we have people in position of power who mouth adherence to the Constitution and ubuntu and don’t live it we are not going to be able to convince anyone else.
Charles Villa-Vicencio (M&G) said “The mere fact that those allegedly involved in corruption and crime are dealt with in a mealy-mouthed manner sends shock waves through the nation.” This comment struck a cord with me, as I am sure it does with many South Africans.
I would really like to see the finger pointing stopped. Crime is about people (of no particular skin colour) perpetrating morally reprehensible actions on other people (of no particular skin colour) because they can, because it’s accepted, because we, as a nation, accept it. As a nation, we have to get together and send out a resounding NO to acceptance of this type of behaviour.
@ Sandile, the only reason race determines everything in SA is because of those of us who continue to think it. Surely, ubuntu as an African philosophy applies equally to all South Africans, or should I say can apply to all South Africans? It worries me that black South Africans still believe that race exclusion is acceptable. Its not, not in any form.
@ Felix - it will be tough to try to teach a youngster this while all around us we have this emphasis on western excess and materialism. However I truly believe that the African cultural values you want to teach him are appropriate and can best be absorbed by appealing to the uniqueness of a South African child, each South
African child has an opportunity to create a truly wonderful society with a combination of African values and western influence, let us not forget that we are Africans first, western second.
“Extensive research on the subject has shown that ubuntu behaviours and practices are common across the African continent and beyond, but mainly inherent among Africans of all shades and groupings.”
Ha-ha! You mean it was inherent in Africans when they committed genocide against the Koi people, or the black-on-black violence known as the Mfecane? All the above, note, without the help of whites.
What nonsense. Ubuntu does not exist. Ubuntu is like that mythical creature one often hears about but somehow never manages to meet: an honest politician.
“Ubuntu says that we are in this shit together, and we will be better able to deal with it and thrive in our effort when we reach out to each other, hold hands and walk this journey together, towards a better future for our children. It is about seeing other people for who they are, and not how we would like them to be.”
I wish we would show some of this famed ubuntu to our neighbours dying in Zimbabwe. If we really valued human rights we would march the good-for-nothing and costly South African army in there right now and end Mugabe’s rule… See him for what he really is! How can the people stand up against him when they are too tired, hungry and sick? By our continued lack of action we are just condoning what he has done. It makes me ashamed to be a South AFrican!
The more I hear ubuntu propounded as the alpha & omega of our troubles, the more confused I become. Everyone from the unintelligibly verbose Memela to you to Mutwa to Mandela to Mphahlela seem to have different ideas. The one consistent thing seems to be this warped Cartesian thinking of “I am because you are” gibberish.
If so, it was tried by ancient civilisations, found wanting by diversity, debated and discarded generations ago.
One other thing seems consistent too. The individual has no intrinsic worth outside of the colony mentality. There is some blatantly confused notion that the community looks after the community, yet nothing guides the community. This is patent idiocy.
Philip Zimbardo, Stanley Milgram and scores of other more perceptive and knowledgeable scientists (unburdened by the baggage of 1000 years of primeval mindsets and technological stagnation)have repeatedly proved the basic fallacy that the village is no more and ubuntu only works in the isolation wards of the village or meta-village.
To continue thinking of ubuntu as anything but an anachronistic feudal myth that enlightens our understanding of historic failures is like arguing about what happens when the unstoppable force meets the immovable object …
Sandile
Thanks for your Thought Leadership on this topic. I must say upfront that I am by no means an expert on this very broad subject. I happen to be very passionate about what is positively useful/usable to help us escape the overwhelming downward spiral of mistrust and negativity enveloping us today. I see opportunities all around us, and living Ubuntu is one of them. Lets engage openly on it.
For the most part, Sandile, I fully agree with you and have seen (live) some of the scenarios you paint so vividly about black people (Abantu)that transform themselves and start behaving and living like white people (Abelungu). Those in the know say that it is the nature of global social transformation…
I agree with you up to that point, and I take your pont further (with due respect) by saying that one of the main reasons that happens in the first place is the erosion of Ubuntu principles in daily life and in the face of changes brought about by the mixing of/with other ways of being/doing/living. Nothing wrong with that; we just need to find the right mix and customize what is useful within Ubuntu to help build what we want out of where we find ourselves.
Owen, I cannot answer your question about the ANC’s stance on Ubuntu, except to say that there seems to be rigorous participatory processes at the local level structures. Individuals within party or organisational structures anywhere else are responsible for their own behaviours and many have lost touch, or never had any, with the principles of Ubuntu, hence the need to re-build and spread this towards real, tangible nation-building.
Sandile, thanks again for raising this the way you did… thought provoking, challenging, spicy, and somewhat infuriating!
Is it not possible that ubuntu led to the colonisation of Africa? I’m raising this question on the premise that initially, African leaders then seemed unsuspecting of the settlers’ intention to colonise and loot resources. If this is the case don’t you think that letting go of this value would eventually lead to Africa’s development?
The concept of ubuntu isn’t a universalist philosophy like Christianity. In the traditional worldview, the “other people” doesn’t extend beyond members of the own tribe.
Lehlohonolo Phadima on March 17th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Our problem is surely not with ubuntu, but with the lack of it.
Perhaps I’m simple-minded or simplistic, but as I understand it ubuntu is the quality of being human, “humanity” in English, and treating other people as human beings and not as human resources, sex objects, labour units, suckers to be cheated or robbed, stepping stones to be trampled underfoot as I climb my career ladder or anything else that is less than human persons to whom we should relate as human beinga.
Unfortunately ubuntu seems to be a fading ideal in our society, where greed and ambition are driving it out.
I must say i agree with Dunisani here. Ubuntu has got nothing to do with colour, you either have it or you don’t (that should also answer Owen on the ANC). Sandile’s column, as much at it tells the absolute truth, is more about issues and mentalities of black SAfrican’s today, then it is about the concept of ubuntu. Thanks Dumisani, for clarifying the exact meaning of this beautiful phenomenon called UBUNTU!!!!
Ubuntu will be a word to argue about (as are ‘peace’ and ‘democracy’ for example as used by G.W. Bush) until we practice it, and it becomes a vibrant and compelling life-style example. Of course the Westerners will be able to come and teach us about it, as long as we continue to fall under the spell of their life-style propaganda.
If any of the experts on the term Ubuntu are familiar with Nancy Kline’s social philosophy of the ‘thinking environment’ and taking ‘time to think’ it would be great to hear from you how the views compare.
@UBUQOTHA - Can’t agree with you more, brother. You are the only truth-teller.
Through subjugation of the individual in favour of the ubuntu-based collective hive, Mbeki and his entire bunch - Vavi, Mantashe, Duarte, Nzimande and, of course, The Crook - are able to dodge individual responsibility for all the disasters SA faces. Ubuntu is the new opium of the massas … and the miesies and the umfaans.
I fully agree with the definition of the concept of “ubuntu” as defined in the article. I also agree that ubuntu has nothing to do with colour. But we need to put context to the concept. I agree with Sandile that in our context we have always had “umuntu” and “umlungu”. I would argue that this distinction as understood by Africans had nothing to do with race or colour of the skin but most importantly about the way of life,culture, religion etc. However, any African person would not have expected “umlungu” to display or practice “ubuntu” as defined in the article. Such that when I grew up I would hear the elders saying things like ” lomlungu unobuntu akafani nabelungu” Or “This umlungu unlike other mlumgus has ubuntu”. Now this means that “ubuntu” was not expected from umlungu. But it is important to note that this did not at all suggest that the “umlungu” was wrong or evil in the way he behaves it only meant that they did not dispaly what is expected of “ubuntu”. To suggest that any culture that does not show “ubuntu” is evil is being ethnocentric or thinking that your culture is better than others. For me the biggest lesson we should take from “ubuntu” philosophy is that “we are all collectively responsible for what happens around us” Lets take crime for instance. The ubuntu philosophy would shape our thinking towards asking the questions such as that ” as a nation what is it that we are doing that facilitates crime, why are some of us criminals? Surely if ask this question you are unlikely to come up with selfish and individualistic answers such as more police, death penalty. You are more likely to prioritise dealing with social ills such as unemployment, moral degeneration, greed and get rich quick mentality etc. Very few people who grew up in normal average family with opportunities to go to school and build a career can turn to dedicating his/her life to being a criminal.
The reality of human nature is that it contains the potential for two different behaviours, behaviour that embraces a concern for others and behaviour that only has a concern for the self. This latter behaviour is the easy one to adopt and it leads to the ills of society whilst the first behaviour [ubuntu] although it benefits everybody, is much more difficult for the individual to adopt and therefore it has to go hand-in-hand with spiritual growth in the individual.
This is all about semantics, when it should be about sociology.
Ubuntu is a uniquely African term for a universally encountered human phenomenon.
In 1887, Ferdinand Toennies launched the term “gemeinschaft” which meant “an association in which individuals are oriented to the large association as much if not more than to their own self interest”
This has been rendered in English as “community spirit” amongst other definitions.
Toennies also wrote - “In such societies there is seldom a need to enforce social control externally, due to a collective sense of loyalty individuals feel for society.”
Ubuntu is just another name for a well-known sociological concept and common human experience.
Nigel
Ubuntu is a village culture; similar to all villages in the world; and also similar to the original democracy of the small Greek city states where everyone knew everyone. Part of the trouble is urbanisation.Part of it is also lack of respect for elders.
Evry man in the tribe was allowed to speak and was listened to with respect, yes, but the decision was made by the chief, not by a collective. Both Mandela and Tutu made decisions without consulting their collectives, and their biographers give excuses for them, but in reality it was the chief, not the collective, which made the decision, after everyone had spoken.
Thank you, Nigel, I think you have said it correctly. It is interesting to me that Blacks assume that they can talk with authority on how whites think (insofar as they work on the assumption that everything is race based) but are horrified when whites make the same error. This presupposes some universal “white” mentality as opposed to a universal “black” mentality. Neither exist. Whites scepticism stmes from their observation of the way blacks have treated “their own” in Africa - with a callousness and lack of concern for the poor and downtrodden - that is usually attributed to the colonists. The fact is that according to Christian principles the second great commandment is to “love your neighbour as yourself” When Jesus was asked ‘but who is my nieghbour?’ He told the parable of the Good Samaritan - where a man from the most despised tribe in the region shows compassion for a man he owed nothing to. I don’t care what you call yourself, if these are not principles that you are prepared to live by, no matter what your skin colour, you are barely human. Unfortunately, we are so busy labelling that we don’t appreciate and care about each individual we meet. Goodness does not and cannot reside in a group - it resides in the heart of each individual as they discover that they only way to God (or however you choose to put it) is through the love for each and every brother or sister on earth. To quote Jesus Christ: “How can you say you love God whom you cannot see when you hate your brother whom you can see?”
“It will be a sad day when we wake up to find ourselves invited to attend workshops on ubuntu principles conducted by Americans and Englishmen who happen to have taken on ubuntu and are lapping it up as the best thing to come out of Africa and exactly what the world needs … and we are busy pissing on each other instead.”
Well it’s a sad day then - England is essentially a ‘welfare state’ - probably the epitome of this much-mooted ‘ubuntu’.
And it would indeed appear that the whole of Africa is still busy pissing on each other…
Great comments people.
Felas, thank you for a most enlightening piece. I couldnt agree with you more.
Ahz, I have read Nancy Kline’s book “Time to Think” and practice some of the techniques she recommends for creating a ‘thinking environment’… with terrific results. Her techniques speak directly to Ubuntu principles.
We have a long way to go as a nation, region and continent, towards embracing our common good. As a people, SA has the best opportunity now to lay strong foundations for building true nationhood.
Many among us have started focusing more on what is great within us than dwelling on, and giving more energy and attention, to what is not right.
Happy paradigm shift to anyone who dares change gears. Like Neal Donald Walsch puts it: ‘your life begins at the end of your comfort zone’.
Dumisani, thank you for your insigthtful views. It is a pity that us South Africans are so obsessed with skin colour. Even the origin of ubuntu becomes a racial issue. Just because an indigenous word describes a phenomenon that is found all over the world, does not mean it is an African phenomenon! We should not let this obsession with skin colour stop us from caring for one another, regardless of colour, creed, gender, religion, etc.
Ubuntu, like many beneficial humanity driven ideologies, is redundant in this globalising and ever consumerist dispensation. I live in Japan and there is a kind of Ubuntu in operation here. However, it is not inclusive of people outside of Japanese society. This kind of Ubuntu is what Sandile is talking about and it only works in homogenous societies. In a globalising world, Ubuntu has to shift its identity or otherwise face the severe constraints that Japanese society has imposed on itself with total isolation. This route is not sustainable, even the Japanese Government will concede that. South Africa, in many respects, is leaps and bounds ahead of Japan as a result of our heterogeneous demographic composition. South Africans now need to turn this strength into something more positive.
Ubuntu will save us. hallelujah! Its just the latest myth being peddled as a glib and easy answer to the problems of the most backwards and failed continent on the globe.
The continent and this country are on the verge of imploding from corruption, crime and mismanagement and since independence African leaders have been trying to give content to invented myths of recapturing African heritage.
In the 1960s and 1970s it was freedom, slavery, colonialism, redistribution of wealth and socialist co-operative measures…blah blah.
Various models of African socialism in Tanzania, Zambia, Burkina Faso etc resulted in failed states.
Later it was ‘democracy’ african style, with one party states or one party in power for life, like the ANC.
We also saw pan-Africanism, African re-awakening, Rastafarianism, Black Consciousness, people’s democracy, the African Renassance (which takes SA back to the dark ages without power), Empires (The Central African Empire), Warlords, dictators, tribalism. Its all a failure. Now we are fed uBuntu.
Africa has a capability within its cultural and intellectual traditions to clothe an invented myth in the powerful garb of an encompassing political framework in order to orientate Africans along new political lines so that their dignity could be restored.
When will the continent stop seeking to blame colonialism, neo-colonialism, Apartheid blah blah and whitey for its ills?
When will it realise we don’t need words like uBuntu, we need good governance, a stop to crime and corruption, and the removal of the idiotic that passes for government and leadership in Africa.
For all the greed, evil, racism, lack of uBuntu etc. of the white man, and whatever other BS people want to peddle, Europe, america and Australia succeeded did they not? Their was good goverance and the people prospered.
uBuntu is the latest smoke and mirrors used to cover up failure.
Consulting Engineer on March 18th, 2008 at 10:31 am
Ah, it makes sense now, im enlightened…
I am who I am because of others around me; I am because we are.
That explains the sheep mentality! And the penny drops. I am eternally grateful! Thank you.
As an African now living abroad, I know that Ubuntu is real - whenever any Africans meet and sit down - they share the same values (family, work, doing their best, security) and spread brotherhood (in a non-sexist way) amongst themselves. Last year I was in Dubai on business, I rounded together my fellow Africans (two Nigerians, three South Africans and one Kenyan) - there were two whites in the mix, and we assembled an informal African Union for one lunch. We talked about our families, our social values and despite not knowing each other from a bar of soap - had Ubuntu in common.
No preaching, it just was. Sometimes I think we talk around the issues when we should step back and realise, we’ve actually achieved a helluva lot in South Africa and as African, we should stop in-fighting and rather be proud of our achievement and show the world we’re better than the CNN “dying Aids baby” myth they love perpetuating.
Alex Smit-Stachowski on March 18th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
@lynnedt - as a Christian myself, I agree with you that Ubuntu seems to echo the second of the “two laws of Christianity”.
I see these problems with Ubuntu:
What if you do not want to be part of the “collective we are”. Will Ubuntu, as it is implemented, protect you and respect your right not to be part of it? Or, as happened in my experience, will you be sidelined and excluded from the community?
Re: Felas comments:
In 40 years of living in rurual KwaZulu-Natal, I never heard of white people in South Africa referred to as anything other than “umlungu”. Felas points out that white people have to prove that they have Ubuntu before they will be called “umuntu” (but all blacks are automatically “umuntu”). This accords with my experience. So to become accepted as a part of the Ubuntu community you first have to prove you have it. So as a white person I am automatically excluded from being part of Ubuntu (called an “umlungu”) until I prove that I should be part of it. That exclusion is based on my skin colour and ignorance about my beliefs.
Ubuntu has the potential for exclusion from the community, and therefore has the potential to be racist, and I have to say that in my experience in South Africa, that is how it is implemented.
I dearly love the principle and would love to see South Africans embracing Ubuntu (or Christianity) to see in each fellow African another human being “only”, and despite the good that is being done(such as on Thought Leader), I fear that that day if far, far away.
Skizo
Every culture and tribe in the whole world was conquered by the same thing - superior weapons. Until the Atom bomb, when “They” (the politicians and Generals) realised “they” might get themselves killed. Shaka developed a better spear and impi formation and conquered other black tribes, till his tribe was conquered by guns.
Daniel
Japan is a small country with large cities with millions of people living in them, yet the water running through their second largest city is pure, and their environment is preserved. I don’t know that we are doing better. They are an interesting people. Their language has no indigeneous swearwords, and relates to no other language in the world.
Consulting Engineer
Got the message - and your point.
Some things dont change, and your words have given me some reasurance that I am not alone. My email is now compromised, and microsoft are still wondering how I managed to remove my computer from their registered list of XP2003.
Ready to start another chanllenge - I am getting bored. Thank you for your guidance. You write good stories. Like the staff of the new organisations that pursue the higher arts - and sharing that instead. Much more sensible.
Hola Nonke!!
Old habits die hard. We have an issue here of projection and image of history. Culture therefore is the totality of group of all these human experiences, as per person, family, nation, Global humans. By the way, has anyone noticed that we are hanging in space in relation to all the other objects and phenomenon in the Universe? By creating a full understanding of one another and not handcuffing other cultures from redefining themselves, could help a great deal. African History and African Culture have a rightful place in the annals of World history. It is therefore important to recognize the reality that there is what is called African History and Culture; a lot of scholarship has been published and on video; DVD, etc. A lot of people need to go and look for the Openheimer Library and look into the shelves and pull books, out… In New York, go to the Schomburg Library and pull out books there; or, University Libraries, well stocked with books. Visit B&Bs, get to live intimately with African Families- which will help to learn about Africans in South Africa. Talking today, Most other races will be hard-pressed to see that we are constantly burying our African people at an alarming rate; People are building their houses; most streets are being tarred; Some housing units, roads, and so forth are being built(for 2010). Poor people coping with joblessness, Paidelectricity/water; poverty; disease, hope/Living there would help, dis-entangle cultural ubuntu
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Dumi works with people.
He does not like boxes, especially those that we like to slot others into in our heads. He enjoys watching people do their thing... whatever it is. He tries not to ever judge anyone, and does his best to take everyone as they show up, and not as as he would have them show up.
He is an avid reader, and is fascinated by people's reactions to their own mirror images and to change, all kinds of change. He is an aspiring, and eclectic, writer. He writes about anything that catches his fancy, mainly about people and their stories, perceived or imagined.
His message is: No boxes please, we are still evolving...
The best way to snap out of a World Cup hangover is to take a good look at the financial ruins visited upon the so-called advanced economies and then ...
One of the many definitions of paradigm is that it is "a pattern or model, or an exemplar". Another says that it is a "thought pattern" or a way of lo...
Baby cats are cute little things called litter. That's not the litter I'm talking about here. This is about human litter. Not the daily verbal type ei...
In case you missed it, Ubuntelligence is generally defined as the "ability and courage to seek out and connect to other, seemingly different, fellow h...
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I enjoyed this. Whilst I understood what Sandile was saying in his post, this is a welcome and eloquent elaboration on the concept of ubuntu and compliments what he was saying very well.
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