Ubuntu Philosophy for Beginners
Ubuntu Philosophy is a small word. In just three syllables, it offers a profound explanation of togetherness and interdependence. A southern African concept of humanity. It is the idea that I am a person because of other persons. I have humanity because others have humanity. It echoes the idea of namaste, ie the soul in me recognises the soul in you. I cannot be a fully actualised person unless you are a fully actualised person. It is my responsibility to provide you with the power to achieve these things if it is in my power to do so. However small or insignificant my power may seem to me.
In Africa, our philosophies are practical. My resources are your resources. Ubuntu means paying it forward, not keeping score, not behaving as if my resources given freely must be repaid by the person who received it. And not expecting it to be repaid. Only having faith that when I need it, someone else will give me ubuntu. It can be a hard philosophy to follow in a capitalist world driven by personal gain and private wealth. And the hoarding of status symbols.
Most Europeans I meet marvel at the idea and say that is ‘great’, code for their doubt that it’s a workable philosophy on a large scale. Sure, it works within a close-knit family. Everyone helps each other out. Or maybe even in a small village where everyone is dependent on each other in a very immediate and recognisable way. It makes sense, and I can see how that could be practically applied. But in the world? On a large scale?
Well, the world is a big village, isn’t it? We are all inter-dependent on each other. Today, with all of our technological advances, even more so. We refer to the ‘global village’ daily. Think of crowdfunding and co-ops; think of shared allotments. Now think of countries that have. A lot. And countries that have nothing, where people are literally starving to death. If each country is a member of the village, the family; if each country is represented by a person in the ubuntu philosophy; then I am a country because you are a country. I can only be a developed nation if you have the chance to be a developed nation. I can only enjoy living in peace if you can live in peace.
Ubuntu is my responsibility because it is in my power to provide you with the opportunity and resources to share in my position. Without keeping score or expecting the country I help to repay the debt in equal measure. And there lies the crux of the matter doesn’t it… Can I really go without my excess every day? The mountains of food not consumed locally or used up in exports? Can I give this freely to a country that needs it? So that someone, somewhere, can have more than one meal a day? Can I live without my bulging collection of shoes so someone, somewhere, can have just one pair?
Ubuntu is about community, in a very real sense. It is a little like karma, in that you build good ubuntu in the hope that you never need it. So, when it comes to you, like karma, all will be well with you. It is helping each other to become strong enough to help another, and so on. Eradicating burdens by sharing them.
For a musical ubuntu explanation check out rising star Sneziey channelling South African legend Brenda Fassie with her performance of Umuntu gabantu.
Tell us how your local community come together and share. What do you think about the ubuntu philosophy?
Sources
