Ubuntu and The Elders

I was born in Africa and although my European ancestry has contributed my red hair, fair skin and freckles, I consider myself an African. It is is in my bones and in my blood. It is where most of my heart calls home. And I suspect it always will - no matter where on the globe I actually reside.

But I am also a citizen of the world. I've travelled to five of the seven continents, lived on three, and have family and friends on all but Antarctica. I feel connected to it all and am acutely aware of the interconnectedness of people and the environment, people and people.  I love travelling because it allows me to experience this connection across geography and cultures. And for all the differences one confronts, and the enjoyment of discovery that is part of that, it becomes increasingly clear that there are many more things that people have in common, no matter where we live, than those that set us apart. 

We are linked by this.

There is no single word in English that describes the concept of ubuntu [ùbúntú]. It is an African concept - a southern African concept in particular. But like many philosophies it has global relevance and resonates with many who have never travelled to Africa and perhaps never will.

I think this expresses the essence of it well:

"You know when ubuntu is there, and it is obvious when it is absent. It has to do with what it means to be truly human, to know that you are bound up with others in the bundle of life....

...It is the essence of being human. It speaks of the fact that my humanity is caught up and is inextricably bound up in yours. I am human because I belong. It speaks about respect and wholeness, it speaks about compassion.

A person with ubuntu is welcoming, hospitable, warm and generous, willing to share. Such people are open and available to others, willing to be vulnerable, affirming of others, do not feel threatened that others are able and good, for they have a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that they belong in a greater whole. They know that they are diminished when others are humiliated, diminished when others are oppressed, diminished when others are treated as if they were less than who they are. The quality of ubuntu gives people resilience, enabling them to survive and emerge still human despite all efforts to dehumanise them." 

Archbishop Desmond Tutu 

2004

I've been thinking about this a lot again recently. 

There is plenty of negativity in the world and sometimes I feel we will be overwhelmed by it.  But then I see signs that there are many people who manifest ubuntu, whether they are conscious of it or not. I look for these signs because I refuse to give in to despair and the signs act as reminders to me not to give up on humanity. And not to give up on myself.

• The election of the deeply inspiring Barack Obama reminded me of it.
  
• The creative and profound Wisdom Project reminded me of it.
  
• The support and encouragement of the blogging community remind me of it.
  
• The love of my family and friends always remind me of it.

And this week, when I came across this incredible initiative, called The Elders, I was reminded of it again.

Ubuntu personified.

A good sign to me.

Edit: Here's another example of a sign I came across this morning... People like Lisa and her team serve the cause of ubuntu.

Happy Friday lovely people!

Flickr credits