Ubuntu is a profound African philosophy that emphasizes community, interconnectedness, and collective well-being. Often encapsulated in phrases like “I am because we are” or “a person is a person through other persons,” Ubuntu fundamentally suggests:
• Interdependence: It underscores that one’s humanity is tied to the humanity of others. We exist and thrive not in isolation, but through relationships with others.
• Community over Self: Ubuntu places a high value on communal harmony, mutual respect, and collective responsibility. The well-being of the community is seen as paramount, where individual success is measured by how it benefits or integrates with the community.
• Compassion and Sharing: There’s a strong ethic of empathy, sharing, and support for one another. Resources, knowledge, and burdens are shared, ensuring no one is left to fend for themselves.
• Reconciliation over Retribution: Ubuntu promotes reconciliation, forgiveness, and restorative justice rather than retributive justice. It’s about healing relationships, not just punishing wrongs.
• Humility and Humanity: It encourages humility, respect for others, and recognition of our shared humanity. Leaders are expected to serve rather than dominate.
In practical terms, Ubuntu influences:
• Social Structures: It shapes how communities organize themselves, often leading to collective action in communal projects, support systems like Esusu (Nigeria), Stokvel (South Africa), Zunde raMambo (Zimbabwe), Harambe (Kenya and Tanzania), Chilembe (Cameroon), Bulungi Bwansi (Uganda) and Susu (Ghana) among others.
• Leadership: Ubuntu-inspired leaders are community-focused, aiming for consensus and inclusive governance.
• Conflict Resolution: Ubuntu has influenced restorative justice practices, like South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, focusing on healing and understanding rather than vengeance.
• Education and Ethics: It’s integrated into educational curricula and ethical teachings, promoting values of cooperation, respect, and collective progress.
The philosophy of Ubuntu isn’t confined to one African culture but resonates across many, offering a worldview where the collective good is seen as inseparable from individual well-being, fostering societies where people genuinely care for one another.
Some example of community programmes
• Zimbabwe’s Zunde raMambo: Zunde raMambo, which translates to “Chief’s Granary” in the Shona language, is a traditional Zimbabwean communal farming and social welfare system designed to ensure food security and support for the most vulnerable members of the community.
• Ghana’s Susu: This is a form of informal banking where individuals contribute money into a common pool, which they can withdraw in turns or share equally. It’s a system of mutual support that helps with saving and lending, particularly for those outside formal banking systems.
• Nigeria’s Esusu (Yoruba): Similar to Susu, Esusu involves a group of people pooling money together for communal or individual use, often for business ventures or to cover urgent needs. There’s also the “Aaró” system among the Yoruba, where community members collectively work on tasks like farming or house-building.
• South Africa’s Stokvel: This is another form of rotating savings and credit association where members contribute fixed sums of money to a common pool which is then disbursed in a systematic fashion, often used for large purchases or community projects.
• Cameroon’s Chilembe: Similar in structure to the above systems, Chilembe is a communal savings and loan association where members contribute to a fund that supports various community needs.
• Kenya and Tanzania’s Harambee: While primarily known as a fundraising method for community projects like schools or hospitals, it embodies the same spirit of communal effort and collective responsibility for the welfare of the group.
• Uganda’s Bulungi Bwansi: This translates to “community work” and involves collective community labor for public good, similar to how Zunde raMambo organizes community farming.
These systems showcase how African communities have long employed ingenious methods of communal support, leveraging collective resources for social welfare, economic support, and community development. They all hinge on the principle of Ubuntu – “I am because we are,” highlighting the interconnectedness of community life and mutual aid.
Compiled by: Misheck Samanyanga
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