The continent has been abuzz with the recent
xenophobic attacks and to me this merely is a sign of a bigger problem; if not
a first phase of this huge calamity awaiting the continent. As African
nationals, we have always been groomed in the spirit of Ubuntu, the spirit of
brotherhood and sisterhood. Tata Madiba (Mandela) would always emphasize this
in most of his speeches and so would our very own King Sobhuza II. During one
of Arch-Bishop Desmond Tutus speeches, he narrated that,’ a person with ubuntu
is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened
that others are able and good, for he or she has a proper self-assurance that
comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished
when others are humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or
oppressed, or treated as if they were less than who they are’’. This surely
means that as a society/ nation/ nations, we are meant to uphold values of love
and not resentment.
Disheartening
It is very disheartening to know that an
individual would want to take another’s life because they feel another is
somewhat their source of poverty. They actually claim that their fellow
counterparts / Africans come to their countries and loot or take away their
jobs. The issue of poverty cannot be attributed to other people, in-fact poverty
is merely a challenge for one to get up and change their lives. As alluded by
Nelson Mandela in his speech (22 August 2003), a nation cannot solve its issues
of poverty and other social problems if they have no concept of time. Poverty
alleviation is essentially about one taking a stand against it and using their
time wisely in a day (one of the ways). Poverty is not caused by people from
other countries coming to another country. Instead those people bring with them
skills which can be shared amongst a society and help improve the standard of
living.
Essence
The actuality of the word Ubuntu; a philosophy
word with Nguni origin or meaning, “the quality of being human”. To the bystander,
ubuntu can be seen and felt in the spirit of willing participation,
unquestioning cooperation, compassion, warmth, openness, and personal dignity
demonstrated by the indigenous black population. The spirit of being human cuts
across all borders (has no boundaries or borders). It is what makes a
civilisation and what unites us as a continent. Even with our different
languages, more or less similar cultures we uphold values of Ubuntu.
The mere fact that we have forgotten these
teachings points out to social decay. I have always said that civilizations are
built on peace, solidarity and compassion. These three pillars have grown
countries to their utmost best. If we as a human civilisation are able to douse
another with petrol, hang a tire around their necks and set them alight, then
we are seriously losing the plot. What have we replaced Ubuntu with; I wonder? How
are we as African nationals meant to build our Africa into being a unified and
glorified continent, if we still see each other in the eyes of resentment? I am
sorry to say but setting alight an individual or raping them has never really
solved an issue. Talking about issues has always worked for us as humans; not
acting on impulse. I believe that is how tribunals were formed, to help resolve
issues in a congregatory manner.
