Page 29 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 22

Community

ciliation is successfully made possible to ensure peace and unity last forever.
Therefore, the practice of the Ubuntu philosophy, with regard to humanity,
care, sharing, teamwork spirit, compassion, dignity, consensus decision-mak-
ing system, and respect for the environment are all positive elements that
Ubuntu is about a contribute towards togetherness; this is why we say, “Ubuntu is about a com-
munity coming together and help each other.”
community com-

ing together and

helping each oth-

er

Acholi practice of the Mato Oput
reconciliation process, reconciliation
occurs with the simultaneous drink-
ing of a bitterroot extract drink
from a common calabash set on the
ground. In the case of Mozambique,
traditional leaders, in response to
their own crisis, developed rituals
known as “soul-cleansing”.
In Mozambique, “soul-cleansing”
rituals were widespread and played
a crucial role in developing recon-
ciliation and reintegration “from
below” - processes that took place
at the grassroots level in ways that
addressed the needs of the indi-
vidual, the family, and the wider
community. With such an approach,
Ubuntu reconciliation goes beyond
established normative rules, institu-
tions, and procedures, which may be
inadequate to deal with the conflict.
Reconciliation is therefore a creative
and flexible human activity that is
undertaken for the sake of humanity
as a shared community.

Since Ubuntu is the essence of a
human being, the divine spark of
goodness is inherent within each be-
ing. From the beginning of time, the
divine principles of Ubuntu have
guided African societies. Respect for
the community and corporate social
responsibility are part of the African
Ubuntu philosophy, good gover-
nance is made possible under the
African Ubuntu philosophy, recon-

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