Ubuntu is described as an ancient African word meaning "humanity to others", "share", I am what I am because of who we are", and "we become human through other persons".
It is also claimed Ubuntu is the spiritual foundation of all African societies. "Ubuntu involves the belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all of humanity, a unifying world view best captured by the Zulu maximumuntu ngumuntu, ngabantu - a person is a person through other persons." Ref. www.southafrica.info
"Ubuntu ia a humanistic ideology from sub-Saharan Africa". Ref. Wikipedia
The comic strip above suggests that in Western capitals Ubuntu is supposedly unknown. The Ubuntu philosophy is not about giving a wearly traveller samp and beer as a good will humanitarian gesture after a long journey, although it is that too, but it is in a wider context about African socialism.
Humanity to others
African socialism is nothing new and one recent 20th century example is the failed Soviet socialism which was responsible for ushering in the Cold War.
Neither is the philosophy of sharing new to the ancient or modern worlds. Abraham gave gifts in abundance to Melchaezadek the High Priest in Jerusalem, but refused to share his wealth, or accept even the smallest of gifts from the king, lest GOD would bless the kings position.
It is probably historically inaccurate to attribute an Ubuntu concept to any African nation, especially the Zulu's, because of the diverse african groups in sub-Saharan Africa, the Zulu's being an aggressive and hostile Imperialistic tribe. - and the fact that none of the oral claims can be tested against historical (written) records. In hind-sight Ubuntu could just about say anything in the modern age of printed media.
Share
Sharing is a means of poverty alleviation and can change your life for the better if what has been shared with you is used in the right way, which is why world banks want to know how their money will be spent.
GOD makes people wealthy
Abraham became the wealthiest man in the ancient world with GOD's intervention, and kept on adding to his abundance just because he was a Friend of GOD.
I am what I am because of who we are
You are what GOD made you, born with gifts, talents, health and personality. We are the sum product of GOD's work in our mother's womb.
Ubuntu is irrelevent without GOD. Like when JESUS offers you eternal life, how will you respond? Christianity answers all those issues Ubuntu supposedly wishes to address, and which humanistic philosophy supercedes the Living Scriptures? Is Ubuntu greater than than the words of JESUS to, "Love one another..." and "Love your neighbour..."? And what compares to GOD's abundant power in the timeless statement, "I have come to give LIFE"?
Ubuntu's Archilles Heel
Ubuntu's world view is socialism. Capitalism and Socialism are opposite sides of the same coin, both are man made social systems. The impression on the material which makes up the coin is, figuratively speaking, none other than the Ancient of Days. It is to GOD whom we look for our provision, and should be thankful as we pray, "Give us this day our daily bread..."
Ubuntu calls for reciprocal humanitarian action, however in Africa's poverty this reciprocity becomes a one way transaction of demands. Thus it is easy to understand why the adherents of the religion of Ubuntu are able to embrace the pernicious ism's of our time. In a way Ubuntu slanders those who are said not to share, as being inhumane, uninterested and selfish, as who can say no to Africa's religion of demands, even when they are at times unworthy of their own humanistic creation. Who may we ask, would not feel ashamed as being referred to as in humane or uncareing, as this anthropocentric and ethnocentric religion does to those who are in discourse with Africa?
The shorthand script of Ubuntu is, "you're only human if you give", but the archilles heel of Ubuntu is the challenge of melding Christian truth (Christianity)with all the other Afro tribalisms into their newly articulated socialist religious system, without which it claims your humanity is lost
Tribal Renaissance
Copyright 2008
