Ubuntu

In contrast to western ideals of self-reliance and autonomy, ubuntu is based on the belief that the collective plays a central role in defining personal identity. In many African communities, an individual’s relationships with other people determine their sense of who they are – indeed, their place within society shapes their idea of what it means to be human. At the same time, ubuntu fosters respect for the individuality of other people, which in turn generates feelings of compassion, empathy and trust. 

These relationships determine not only a person’s character, but also their code of conduct. Several core ethical beliefs underlie ubuntu philosophy. Foremost is a profound respect for the sanctity of life. Members of a society place the highest priority on the health and well-being of the group, often at the expense of material gain. The bonds of kinship – including both blood relations and the extended “family” represented by one’s community – also hold primary importance in the ubuntu worldview. Belonging to a tightly knit social unit nurtures such values as collective responsibility, reciprocity, resiliency, justice and reconciliation. Encouraging these qualities in every individual is vital to the survival and prosperity of the whole. 

Ubuntu clashed with European values during the era of colonization. As colonial powers appropriated land, imposed foreign legal codes, pushed urbanization and spread Christianity, they disrupted and undermined traditional communal life throughout the African continent. Ubuntu nonetheless persisted throughout the colonial period, and the idea has played an important role in African thought in  the postcolonial era. Ubuntu played a critical role in the South African independence movement, as opponents of the apartheid regime rallied around ideals of solidarity and mutual assistance. During the AIDS crisis, ubuntu notions of kinship helped guide relief efforts on behalf of orphans who had lost their parents to the disease. 

Many believe that the ubuntu philosophy has the potential to spur radical change throughout Africa. As a model of giving rooted in traditional ideas of community and cooperation, ubuntu beliefs and practices may provide valuable lessons to the  formalized philanthropic sector where western approaches have often fallen short. The solidarity and giving at the core of ubuntu have also played important roles in establishing and sustaining the core of many social movements in Africa.

Contributors: Maha Tazi, Stephen Meyer