Help me write about this please, fellow southern Africans…. .. help me capture a concept…… correct me where I’m incorrect.
Of course such ideals are commercialized and misunderstood and misused. Such perverse uses does not render the initial ideals as invalid:
Ubuntu is a Zulu word.
Many Zulus, and descendants of Zulus of southern Africa hold sacred the ancient concept of Ubuntu. It captures a lore of hospitality, openness, and the power of community, the necessity of the individual to live within community. The individual is empowered by the community and does his or her share to empower others.
Ubuntu is an ideal way of life to which a Zulu may aspire.
It means we make each other. I am more who I am when I am connected to you. You are more who you are when we acknowledge our mutual need for each other. We can do more together than we can do alone.
Ubuntu has little room or accommodation for the lone genius. Consensus is valued. As far as possible, all voices are attempted to be heard. Age is deeply respected. It’s community-above-self, as a way of life.
No one is “thrown away” or written off.
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