More than just a native
word:
An anthropologist proposed a game
to children of an African tribe. He put a basket of fruit near a tree and told
the kids that the first one to reach the fruit would win them all. When he told
them to run, they all took each other’s hands and ran together, then sat
together enjoying the fruits. He then asked why they ran like that (holding one
another's hands), as one could have taken all the fruit for oneself (having
gotten to the fruit basket first, thus winning the race), they said "Ubuntu,
how can one of us be happy if all the others are sad?"
"Ubuntu" is a
philosophy of African tribes that can be summed up as "I am because we
are".
The above words, as extracted from the caption to the left summarises
selflessness, the basis of Ubuntu. But the big question is, do
people still exude these qualities? My answer would be yes they do but such
people are in the minority.
Interestingly, I trust that you
reading this are among the handful of “ubuntu-centric” people, as such
selflessness has in recent times been extinct from human ethics and responsibility
to one another.
Moreover, with the growing level
of disrespect for human existence, as evident in the lack of Ubuntusim,
which is the resultant effect of widespread poor leadership traits and
capabilities by those privileged to govern a given geographical area (political
climate), especially in Africa, it is scary to conclude that such worthiness in
leadership that defines Ubuntu is creeping into extinction. The
deteriorating level of living standards across Africa, as against the lavish
lifestyles by its leaders, who are mostly corrupt, speak volumes in this
regard.
According to www.theguardian.com, the word Ubuntu is part of a Zulu phrase
"Umuntu, Ngumuntu ngabantu", which means a person is a person through
other people.
One of the greatest human that
ever lived, Nelson Mandela, once described Ubuntu with the example - "a
traveler through a country would stop at a village and he didn't have to ask
for food or for water. Once he stops, the people give him food and attend him.
That is one aspect of Ubuntu, but it will have various
aspects. Ubuntu does not mean that people should not enrich themselves.
The question therefore is: Are you going to do so in order to enable the
community around you to be able to improve?”
Ubuntuism - A trait with a
difference to make or mar:
It is no questioning the fact
that such communal improvement is lacking these days, as even those with the
biggest opportunity - leaders across the various tiers of political leadership-
fail to enact such.
To this end, the neglect of Ubuntu
by leaders, mars the widespread display of humanity by the generality of people
in the geographical area in question.
Whereas, on the flip, the exude
of Ubuntu-centric attributes drives the commitment of individuals in making the
difference and having everyone carried along to selflessly live for the
betterment of all, not because they have to but it is a necessity inherently
serving as a measure of rightful living.
With Ubuntu, leaders would
have their worthy leadership traits emulated by their followers, which would
in-turn make the territorial area in question – country, state or local
government - a cynosure to the rest of the world. Irrespective of Ubuntu
being a native African word, it is sadly lacking in Africa.
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu
though acknowledging that "Ubuntu is very difficult to render into a Western language”, further summed
it up to mean 'My humanity is caught up, is inextricably bound up, in what is
yours’.
Effects of Ubuntu-centric leadership
to a nation:
Ubuntu discussed so far. I opine the following to be the effects of Ubuntu-centric
leadership approach to a nation…
1. With Ubuntu, the growing corruption (the most threatening leadership
disease ravaging Africa) would be greatly
dwindled
2. Selflessness, as against selfishness would be key to
leadership across the board
3. The led would have a strengthened believe in their leaders
4. An increased widespread patriotism and belief of one’s area
of territorial origination would
be the order of the day
5. The country with Ubuntu centric leaders would be a cynosure
for all
6. The growing patriotism would have the nation economically
growing at a resounding fast
paced level.
This is due to the increased commitment by the people, coupled with the ubuntu-centric traits passed down from the
leaders to the led which in-turn would drive brain
gain, as against brain-drain.
These 6 effects itemised above are
interwoven, entailing that all - neither some nor one - is paramount to
adjudging the leadership to be worthy.
Like I once said
in the article - Accountability
Directed towards Efficiency in Government - “good governance is a must for
all nations of the world, for it is the key to an all round National and
International recognition, respect and historical significance in all spheres
of nationhood and existence”
Be
UBUNTU-centric!!!
