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Ubuntu: The African Philosophy About Making People More Human

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Handbook of Critical Whiteness

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Abstract

Colonialism, colonial languages and foreign religions improperly magnify differences between Black Africans. A colonial view of Black Africans emphasise their diverse cultures but this has to be deconstructed. Even though there are sub-cultures, and differences in livelihoods and language groups, there are more similar than diverging values among them. Ubuntu is the foundation of these similar values. Put simply, Ubuntu is about seeing the individual through their family, community, environment and spirituality. In this chapter, we will elaborate on the Africa’s philosophy of Ubuntu, show areas where this worldview has been impacted by western colonisation and end by discussing Ubuntu’s role in reconstructing with purpose and equity. Amagesi sigomu, meaning, no one culture has right to knowledge production. Philosophies like Ubuntu should shape world affairs because they provide a more humane way of looking at the world. Ubuntu philosophy teaches us that we can not achieve our humanity when others have not.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Health and Society, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia

    Rugare Mugumbate & Augustina Naami

  2. Department of Social Work & Community Development, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Rugare Mugumbate & Augustina Naami

  3. Department of Social Work, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana

    Rugare Mugumbate & Augustina Naami

Authors
  1. Rugare Mugumbate
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  2. Augustina Naami
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rugare Mugumbate .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Sydney School of Education and Social Work, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Jioji Ravulo

  2. School of Health and Society, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia

    Katarzyna Olcoń

  3. Translational Health Research Institute, Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism Translational Research Unit, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia

    Tinashe Dune

  4. School of Health Sciences, Translational Health Research Institute, Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism Translational Research Unit, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia

    Alex Workman

  5. College of Health Sciences, VinUniversity, Hanoi, Vietnam

    Pranee Liamputtong

Section Editor information

  1. Sydney School of Education and Social Work, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

    Jioji Ravulo

  2. School of Health and Society, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia

    Katarzyna Olcoń

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Mugumbate, R., Naami, A. (2023). Ubuntu: The African Philosophy About Making People More Human. In: Ravulo, J., Olcoń, K., Dune, T., Workman, A., Liamputtong, P. (eds) Handbook of Critical Whiteness. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-1612-0_56-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-1612-0_56-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-19-1612-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-19-1612-0

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