Abstract
Ubuntu is an African moral force and worldview that has held its primal societies peacefully together. It is interesting to observe that contemporary awareness of this concept in scholarship particularly associates Ubuntu with potentials to inspire global dialogue and peace efforts aimed at achieving harmonious human coexistence. Surprisingly though, this irenic dimension of Ubuntu has not received any systematic discourse as the literature on the concept shows. Accordingly, employing the human relations approach, this chapter draws on the pervasive literature on the intersections of Ubuntu and dialogue and particularly explores the intrinsic dialogic dimensions of Ubuntu for global peacebuilding efforts. Its basic presupposition is that the emphasis placed on the value of human relationship and peaceful coexistence by both concepts not only requires a systematic discourse, but also shows that indigenous cultural resources are available and viable for local and global conflict resolution efforts.
TopIntroduction
The global concern and efforts towards mediating conflicts, reducing prejudices and misunderstandings and eliminating discrimination of all kinds find their bearings in people’s willingness to accept the common humanity of everyone in the world. Race, class and gender differences and other socially constructed barriers break down once people have the capacity to see one another as belonging to one human family. Interestingly, this sense of humanity has been the soul, ethic, theology and social philosophy of African primal societies which is eminently expressed in the concept of Ubuntu. This concept has been the driving moral force and philosophy that held primal societies peacefully together in Africa. Mnyaka rightly views Ubuntu as “an old philosophy of life that has sustained African communities together in South Africa” (2013, p.215). However, several Ubuntu scholars, such as Bhengu (1996; 2006), Nussbaum (2003), Broodryk (2002), Sindane (1994), Shutte (1993), Letseka (2000; 2012; 2013), and many others, have differently demonstrated the ideals of Ubuntu, indicating that ubuntu ethics can inform global efforts aimed at resolving conflicts, yet without any systematic discourse that is necessary to advance the irenic boundaries of Ubuntu. Therefore, any attempt to fill this gap is an important contribution to the ongoing efforts toward peacebuilding in human societies.
Ubuntu is an African principle of humanity, summarized in the maxim: ‘I am because you are’. Heiley rightly states that Ubuntu is “a “catch-all” term used to characterize the norms and values that are inherent in many traditional African societies, and used to illustrate the way individuals in these communities relate to others, and the quality and character of their relationship” (2008, p.3). The central element of Ubuntu, therefore, lies in the relatedness of human beings one to another, and the imperative of maintaining that relationship by all means. Similarly, Leonard Swidler argues that dialogue is “at the very heart of the universe” because as matter and energy interact as well as the creative interaction of body and soul, woman and man, and the dynamic relationship between an individual and society, the very essence of humanity is dialogue (Swidler, 2011: 28). Thus, interreligious, intercultural and inter-ideological dialogue engagements have intensified in recent times because dialogue helps to “empower people to live in society with genuine respect and mutual care for self and others; appreciating and celebrating differences in social identities rather than allowing them to destroy our common humanity” (Swidler, 2007). Therefore, since the core element of dialogue is the energy it provides to bring different people together into a peaceful living relationship, it is in this regard that we contend in this study that the recognition of dialogue as the heart of all social intercourse relate well with the Ubuntu worldview.
By adopting the human relations approach, we draw on the pervasive literature on the intersections of Ubuntu and dialogue, and particularly, explore the intrinsic dialogic dimensions of Ubuntu for global peacebuilding efforts. The study seeks to highlights that the emphasis placed on the value of human relationship and peaceful coexistence by both concepts not only requires a systematic discourse, but also demonstrates the availability and viability of indigenous cultural resources to contribute to conflict resolution efforts globally.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Dialogue: Refers to an exchange between persons or entities that are different from each other in terms of religion, culture, race, gender, ideology, class, etc. This exchange or interaction could be in the form of a conversation or an existential encounter, especially having the goal of mutual learning in order to achieve an understanding of one another, and harmonious social coexistence.
Interdependence: Describes the value and indispensability of other human beings for the existence of an individual person. This means that the achievement of one’s own goal is impossible without the support and solidarity of other people.
Ubuntu: Is a catch-all term that characterizes the weltanschauung and the concomitant conducts of Africans expressed in the context of relationship. Two aspects of Ubuntu have been identified, namely, the moral quality of a person as well as the philosophy or worldview. The moral aspect describes the spiritual and ethical qualities that the person with Ubuntu exhibits. Ubuntu is also a philosophy of life or worldview that guides the African conduct and general lifestyle.
Peacebuilding: Refers to every behavior and actions that aim at bringing closure to a conflict, including actions that occur after peace agreements have been signed.
Sense of Humanity: Describes a person’s capacity to offer care, respect, show hospitality, be tolerant and demonstrate love, forgiveness, as well as the ability to promote genuine harmony and continuity throughout the wider human system. Living in daily self-expression works of love and effort to create harmonious relationships in the community and the world beyond.