There is a centuries old African adage that says; “Mwacha mila ni mutumwa.” This translates; Anyone who abandons his or her culture becomes a slave. You can argue otherwise till cows come home but this proverb is inarguably true to this very day and age.
The word UBUNTU comes from the largest enthic group in Africa namely; THE BANTUS. This ethnic group spreads from the great forests of Congo through the plateaus and savanna grasslands of East Africa, down to the Limpopo and Victoria falls and further south to the land of tata Nelson Rolihlahla Madiba Mendela.
In its simplest form, UBUNTU means; I am because we are.
However, for those like myself who have never decided to negate our rich African culture, we well understand that the profound phrase of Ubuntu is; ‘Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu’ which literally means that; a person is a person through other people.
Unfortunately, most of the 21st century people especially the young generation have totally negated their super rich ancestry culture no wonder the present day immortality. In a dire need of seeking to fit in the modern digital world of technology, we have become slaves of technology and our ancestry culture that’s loaded with morality is rapidly disappearing by each passing day.
If you are waiting for prophets to deliver the message of disintegration of humanity, you must have missed the memo from philosophers like Albert Einstein who once said; “I fear the day technology will surpass human interaction because the world will have a generation of idiots.” This prophecy though not from a prophet but from a philosopher is now at hand.
As we continue down the tragic trajectory of humanity disintegration due to vast technology that continues to turn reality into virtual and feelings into fantasy, please let’s not get lost of that the spirit of UBUNTU is the only spirit of genuine friendships and longevity relationships that can rekindle the long lost rich culture of togetherness.
Kindly let’s slow down on technology which enables us to connect with a thousand virtual friends but not a real genuine physical friend. I am not against technology whatsoever, my urgent concern is the need to strike a balance between virtual and reality.
I am well informed that we won’t rekindle the old is gold lifestyle at a glance, nonetheless it’s very imperative to understand that time is of essence because we are at the vague of getting obliterated by technology.
Citing the words of Margaret Beckett; “Humankind has the science and technology to destroy itself or provide prosperity for all, but while science offers us these opportunities, science won’t make that choice for us. Only moral power of the world acting like a community will.”, Idon’t think it can get more clear than that. …….. the choice is ours.
With those words well encrypted in our finger tips forstering us to reinvigorate the long lost spirit of Ubuntu, let’s not succumb to the deterrent of the saying; ‘Every man for himself and God for us all,’ but instead embrace the spirit of brotherhood and live by the wise words of King Solomon inked in Proverbs 17:17 ‘A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.’ By so doing, we shall portray the authentic depiction of African congeniality that are deeply inscribed in the spirit of UBUNTU: ‘I AM BECAUSE WE ARE.’
