Page 28 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 22

Community

imaginative power of reconciliation many cases, treaties or agreements
manages to safeguard the conflict- are entered into solemnly and are
ing interests of the members of his usually regarded as binding and
community, without destroying any sacred. The beliefs behind oaths
of them. Ubuntu philosophy shares are that God or some supernatural
...the practice of the reconciliation as a philosophy and power would punish any individual
practice that is not peculiar to the
who breaks the requirements of the
Ubuntu philosophy with
African peoples alone, rather as an oath.
regard to humanity, care, essential element in most human re- In the other perspective, reconcil-
sharing, teamwork spirit, lationships, which is normally found iation is about the transformation
compassion, dignity, con- in the daily practices of different of the conflict into a nonconflictual
societies for the sake of resolving
situation for the good of the larger
sensus decision-making conflicts at different levels that con- humanity. Reconciliation is not an
system, and respect for tinue to afflict the continent. alternative to conflict but a transfor-
the environment are all Reconciliation requires the creation mation of the conflict. Both parties
positive elements that con- of a consensus about the existence must define the stakes involved and
of the conflict. Under Ubuntu
relativize these stakes for the sake
tribute towards together- philosophy, conflict is not taken for of the wider community as well as
ness... granted, for it sometimes obscures for the future of the unborn. One
underlying issues, which are par- of the most important challenges
tially expressed and which may not facing the international community
be clear to some of the conflicting is the peaceful resolution of numer-
epistemology in which the two as-
pects Ubu and ntu constitute whole- actors, but which must, nevertheless, ous harsh and violent conflicts.
The challenge is posed on two
be resolved. For example, the Luo
ness and oneness. Thus, Ubuntu have a proverb that states, “Kinship levels. The first involves temporary
expresses the generality and oneness is strengthened through friend- management of the conflict; it usu-
of being human. Thus, Ubuntu ship.” In reference to many African ally involves negotiation, mediation,
cannot be fragmented because it is
continuous and always in motion as societies, peace is always on top, for and arbitration, and rests on leaders
people tend to prioritize friendship
and elites, although it still requires
it always puts an emphasis on ‘being and kinship as their modes of being support by the general population.
with others’ and therefore to achieve and living. In turn, this influences The second, deeper level, involves
this togetherness, reconciliation with mixed marriages, sharing of some reconciliation. This requires a
those “others” becomes a continu-
ous necessity of being. cultural values and customs that lead change in the societal repertoire
to many individuals having divided
shared by the society’s members. Re-
The concept of reconciliation under loyalties and interests in any conflict. gardless of the challenges, under the
the African philosophy of Ubuntu This adds to the process of peace- Ubuntu philosophy of reconciliation
offers different approaches of over- making as it enables pressures for a elders play a great role, for example,
coming and transforming conflicts
of different kinds at different levels quick settlement of any dispute. Elders in northern Uganda have as-
serted that the traditional technique
into peaceful situations. This is what Reconciliation is about accepting of reconciliation is the best to deal
has made many of Africa’s conflicts responsibility for wrongs committed with the Kony “pollution” of the
manageable. At first, reconciliation since guilt is not the main point of Acholi culture.
involves a few people, but eventu-
ally, it leads to the reorientation of the process. What is important is the Reconciliation requires the perfor-
recognition of the problem, accep-
the relations between the conflicting tance of the responsibility for what mance of ritual and the explicit pub-
parties to include a wider commu- has happened, and the willingness to lic verbalization of the termination
nity.
be part of the search for solutions. of the conflict by all parties. This
Under Ubuntu philosophy, after may be in the form of a public oath
Ubuntu contains an effective conflict, the question of reconcilia- followed by rituals such as shar-
precept for conflict management, tion comes on top of the agenda. It ing of a meal or drink, which may
whereby the secret of the village is usual for the two protagonists to invoke supernatural beings and the
headman’s skill who, while lacking meet in the presence of an arbitra- living-dead to intercede and assist
all formal sanctions, yet through the
tor from a neutral community. In the process of reconciliation. In the

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