KorzandoS Vol I Issue 02 KorzandoS Vol I Issue 02 | Page 9
I am because we are
SOCIETY, VALUES, VIRTUES ubuntu
Ubuntu..? You’ ve quirked an eyebrow and have got a slightly bemused expression on your face, right? Actually, the Linux distro borrowed this Zulu word“ Ubuntu”. Ubuntu is a phrase that literally means“ I am because we are”.
The story is told of an European anthropologist who after concluding his research in Africa, decided to while away the time whilst waiting for his airport bus. Our anthropologist gathered the children of the village and told them to race a short distance to a nearby tree. Under the tree was a basket of sweets; the winner’ s reward.
Much to his surprise, the children held hands and ran together to the tree. They shared the sweets amongst themselves. They simply responded to his puzzled enquiry about their unusually unselfish behavior with a question of their own,“ how can one of us be happy when the rest are all sad?”.
Ubuntu is the inborn quality of every African. Back in the day, no African child was ever raised by parents alone.
Neither was the welfare of any individual of the African society a burden on their family alone and there was always an inexhaustible aura of good cheer and benevolence to keep our traditional societies a happy haven for all.
To some extent, modernization of our culture has reduced the will of this great African virtue and it cannot be realistically pursued in the bustling lifestyle of our fast moving cities. No matter, we still can live it up in our own small way, the Spirit of Africa, they say, is always alive.
We should never let our own ambitions and desires fill up our heads so much that we cannot see beyond them to positively impact the lives of people
I am because
in our society. After all, what good is a Kingly title when the bearer of the title has no regard for it? By all means let’ s pursue academic excellence and financial success, but let it never be at the
we
expense of our Proud African Morality. Always look at the are
bigger picture, put what matters into perspective while placing your markers.