Page 25 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 15

Economy

perspectives, and then come up with nullius’ as a convenient rationaliza- of America (USA).
something new and unique – some- tion for colonization and ill treat-
thing that will be globally acceptable. ment, there is a need for honest Therefore, Ubuntu guides the
Africa would need to come up with need for those knowledge systems thinking and actions of Africans,
her own GDP methodology strategy themselves, not just the recognition and must therefore be found in their
of measuring her own economy. An that they exist. The knowledge par- lived historical experiences and not
African-oriented GDP must be able adigms of the future are beginning from philosophical abstractions that
to measure the underground econ- by reaching out to those excluded, have very little meaning in actual
omy. It must be able to measure our epistemologically disenfranchised, to life. This is where African philoso-
second economy. Without measur- move together towards a new syn- phy differs remarkably from West-
ing the second economy, the current thesis, that recognizes the existence ern philosophies.
GDP methodology does not give of indigenous knowledge systems. Therefore in his existence and being,
us the true picture of our African In this synthesis, ‘empowerment’, umuntu strives to create conditions
economy. which is usually more about re- for his/her existence with other
suming power (because power is beings for, as the Zulu proverb says:
Our African-oriented GDP meth- never voluntarily relinquished), it is “umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu”,
odology will have to talk to our recognized that shifting of power which literary means: “a person is a
African metaphysics, our norms and without a clear shift of paradigms person through other persons.” This
our values. It must clearly tell us, of understanding that makes new belief therefore prescribes Ubuntu
Africans, why the current econom- propositions about the use of that as “being with others.” The Sotho
ic model is not embedded in our power in a new dispensation leads to people say ‘motho ke motho ka
peoples’ culture, so that we would vicarious abuse of power by who- batho’. To achieve this togetherness,
know where exactly lies the prob- ever is holding it – old or new. Our reconciliation with those “others”
lems of economic growth?. It must new synthesis must be anchored on becomes a continuous necessity of
clearly tell us why do we have, in Ubuntu/Maat (Asante, M.K., 1990; being (Bhengu, 2006)
Africa, a dual economy syndrome – Ramose, M. B., 1996) Ubuntu, unlike the GDP method-
a phenomenon that is not found in ology, is inclusive in nature as it
developed countries? Africa and the world are slowly considers all members of the com-
beginning to recognize the value and munity (organisation) as one entity
Therefore, the time has come for potential of Ubuntu, as the root of aiming at achieving one purpose.
the GDP measurement system to African philosophy and being. It is There have been assertions that the
shift emphasis from measuring the wellspring that flows within Af- ultimate success of any organisation
economic production to measuring rican existence and epistemology in operating in an African environment
people ́s well-being, and we need which the two aspects Ubu and Ntu is premised on this Ubuntu frame-
this urgently. Measuring people’s constitute a wholeness and oneness. work, and it is a widely accepted
well-being, will be the birth of Thus Ubuntu expresses the oneness belief that it is high time that this
another human future. A future of a being human, and thus cannot concept be given a meaningful
based on inclusion, not exclusion; be fragmented because it is continu- chance. It is within this context that
on reclaiming the commons, not ous and always in motion. the current GDP mechanism has
their enclosure; on freely sharing the to be overhauled and reengineered
earth’s resources, not monopolizing As a creative being, umuntu (a so that it could talk to our African
and privatizing them. human person) is a maker of his/ settings.
her world, which constantly emerges
Ubuntu Paradigm and constantly changes. In his/her Ubuntu Economic
With this new stream, argues existence, umuntu is the creator of Constitutive Rules
Catherine Odora Hoppers (2008, politics, religion, economics and law. In our search for an inclusive eco-
Kelvin Conference Centre, Univer- Through these creative activities, nomic model, as we are doing here
sity of Glasgow), there is a growing umuntu gains experience, knowl- in Uganda today, we need to remem-
maturity of dialogue that is not the edge and a philosophy of life based ber that an African is not a rugged
result of a paradigm shift, but is the on truth. The Gross Domestic individual, but a person within a
shift itself. Thus, from the ignorance Product (GDP) phenomenon was community.
and depreciating ideology along with created by a simply human being in Ubuntu, which is the art of being
social theories that claimed ‘terra the early 1930s in the United States human, teaches us concepts such as:

WWW.MSINGIAFRIKAMAGAZINE.COM ISSUE 15 | SEPTEMBER 2021 25