Ubuntu forgotten

                                           

                                                            

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.