OPINION | Let's strive to become more radical in our practice of Ubuntu

In 2018 while I was staying in Pretoria I met Phakaman Ngcobo through my roommate Mpatho Mthembu. He was studying at TUT at the time and stayed at Telkom Residence where me and Mpathoh used to visit on a regular basis. His room was a good place to learn about the Bible because it was always filled with young student preachers who loved discussing biblical topics & doctrines. 

Everytime when we visited Phakaman we would not leave his room without him offering us tea. Sometimes he would not even ask us anything but just prepare the tea and invite us to indulge. 

As I grow up I'm beginning to understand and appreciate the value of what Phakamani was doing at the time. 

Africans have been moving between locations for thousands of years in search of better living conditions. Sometimes they traveled long distances for days on end without food and proper clean water. 

While travelling they would often stumble upon a village in the middle of nowhere and stop to refresh. When they got to the village they didn't have to ask for food or water as these were offered to them without anyone asking. I think this is probably the reason why many of the metaphors, similes and stories used to illustrate the concept of Ubuntu are mainly related to producing or sharing food. 

IsiZulu sithi "Isisu somhambi asingakanani, singangenso yenyoni” which means that the traveller’s stomach is as small as the size of a bird’s kidney. This adage illustrate the cultural importance attached to offering refreshments to visitors regardless of who they are and where they come from. 

Ka Sepedi bare "Bana ba motho ba kgaolelana hlogo ya tsie" which means that siblings share everything regardless of how small it is, even a grasshopper's head. This saying is a clear illustration of the importance of sharing with others no matter how little we think we have. It also highlight the fact that we are one big family because in our African context "Bana ba Motho" does not refer to blood siblings. I am because you are. 

Today I woke up thinking about these things and would love to challenge someone out there to take it upon themselves to strive to become more radical in practicing Ubuntu. You can shake the world in a gentle way!! Botho Ke Botle. #Ubuntu

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