Ubuntu Story – An anthropologist proposed a game to the kids in an African tribe. He put a basket full of fruit near a tree and told the kids that who ever got there first won the sweet fruits. When he told them to run they all took each others hands and ran together, then sat together enjoying their treats. When he asked them why they had run like that as one could have had all the fruits for himself they said: Ubuntu. Ubuntu in the Xhosa culture means: “I am because we are.”
I found this post because this story is going around social networks, and I was looking to find out if it is based in fact. I can’t find any evidence of that.
It’s too bad the inherent racism of this story undermines the good message. Also anthropologists are not in the habit of conducting human experiments and that image is not related to this story. This isn’t a true account. The problem with that is people will discount the story based on those factors, and end up discounting the message too. Mythology should be honest that it is a mythology. A story can feel good and be true and have no basis in fact at the same time.
The truth of the message is that it is possible to have a world view that is community oriented instead of selfish, and that doing so is mutually beneficial. In other words, you can be self serving by serving others. The messages we are raised with help determine the lives we live. Just because you were born into a particular society with a particular message doesn’t make those values you were raised with superior or necessarily better. We must all challenge our own beliefs if we want to build a better world.
EZ, I’m 100% behind you. I found this post for the same exact reason, and agree with you.
I totally agree with you EZ, and Manuel! I found this post for the same reason. It’s a lovely story, and I will share it just as that; a story with a GREAT message. Thanks!
I share it for the same reason, Sara. Is there such a thing as a created story to inspire good. This is one to me. Let’s post one from every culture!
Live life in your fullest because you will never know what future have for you.
visit kenya, they’ll tell you about ubuntu
EZ, I also agree with you. The message is worth marketing to the entire world. If persons in their daily lives recognized that their existence is because of others and we truly cannot make it on our own the world would become less selfless. It is the greed of this world that is causing several world problems.
Though I agree with you, which is the same reason i looked up the story myself hence finding this, I don’t see the inherent racism you are speculating either.
I agree – whence the racism?
Regardless of the story, I’m just glad to see people researching things for themselves and not believing everything they read, see or are told. I could go on and on on this subject but I’m sure you’ve already figured it out.
i’m seeing two problems: the myth of the “noble savage” and the idea that there’s this monocultural “africa” represented by this story’s “tribe”. the idea of “ubuntu” is not an african construct, it’s a human construct; you see it across cultures (ahimsa, ren, ohana, mitayuke osayin, the golden rule). glamourizing it by connecting it to an idealized vision of “africa” and “africans” is racist.
Hmmm…I never saw this as racist at all. My first thought was “wow, that’s amazing…westerners have a lot to learn.” I realize the generality of the regionless African tribe, but that’s as far as it went for me. The message came first.
I’m don’t realy think it’s racist, but there do seem to be myths going around about “An African tribe.”
This one has been making the rounds.
“There is an African tribe that does the most amazingly beutiful thing. When somebody does wrong, they take him into the center of the village, and everybody comes u and tells him of all the good he has done. They believe that people are inherently good, but sometimes they forget this and do wrong. They need to be reminded of their goodness.”
Or something like that.
Well, sorry, but anything that is atributed to “An African tribe (unnamed) is an urban legend unless proven otherwise, IMHO.
I also saw this story in Facebook, and was trying to find out if it was true.
Honestly, I do not see the racism at all in this. It is about making people think twice about things, in a good way, that’s all.
As a former Peace Corps Volunteer living in Mali, West Africa… I can totally see how African children could behave this way. The kids in my village were the exact same way. I gave them a bag of skittles and they managed to share with all of the kids who were gathered outside of my house. I’m not saying that any other kids in Westernized culture would not do the same, but for some reason, I am able to see African kids doing something like this…
Here in the U.S.A, give a child a candy, and I’d be surprised if they even said thank you (without their parents telling them to say it)
but in Mali… wow. I’d give candy to my children… and I would not only see the happiness in their face… they would say thank you, AND give me a blessing… a blessing. wow. Yes… we do have A LOT to learn still..
I’m saddened by the cynicism that immediately questions the veracity of the story and sees racism first.
Yes, ditto 🙂
I feel like the ones who saw racism first are the true racists. I never saw any racism until I read the first post here. Then I was saddened that people look for racism in everything they look at. I barely see race anymore, WE ARE ALL HUMANS people. If we love and care for each other we will have a very happy world.
Having lived in South Africa for over a decade -worked with Xhosa and Zulu people along with many others from various other tribes, I can tell you with certainty the story is true as are many others just like it. In Africa, as in many cultures, a story is told to convey a truth and that truth has many degrees. Why an anthropologist would possibly be telling this story is because in the Eastern Cape – home of the Xhosa people – are some of the world’s oldest human fossils and many go to study what some claim to be the cradle of humankind. If you want to really get to know the area, the people, the stories, you will spend time with those who live there. It is not surprising at all to me that someone would tell this story. It’s powerful – it’s life changing – and soul renewing. I could tell you my own stories of children in Botswana or Angola who found ways to share a candy bar or a bag of m&m’s in the same way. The point is that there IS something different about African culture and values compared to Western culture and values. It doesn’t mean that there are not those in Africa who wouldn’t take the candy and keep it to themselves though either. But at the heart of what people have known and strive to be is an ideal – a philosophy that they hold dear.
The story speaks a deep truth about an African philosophy, but also as some have indicated a human philosophy echoed in many other cultures. However, ubuntu is unique to Africa and while similar philosophies exist in other cultures, they each have their own stories and place. Please do not take away from African culture that gives birth to this story and who has given us this precious understanding of communal life and interrelated humanity. Let each culture speak it’s own truth and wisdom – no doubt some may be very similar.
There is nothing racist about this post – it speaks honestly to the lack of understanding Westerners have when it comes to African culture. I wonder if the reason people are offended and immediate turn to racism is because they have not experienced the breadth or depth of culture themselves. I have sat with Xhosa leaders to listen to their stories and have them explain to me this very concept and even within the Xhosa culture, they do not try to own what they call an African truth, but they eager to share the stories and the truth with those willing to listen. I can also tell you that the mean of ubuntu changes very slightly depending on who is telling the story, but the examples all point to the same truth – my humanity is bound up in your humanity for we can only be truly human together.
wonderful story
Hi Kyle,
Thank you for your comment. You are exactly right. My father is Mosotho and I grew up in Lesotho. That is how it was/is. It never occurres to anyone not to share, and if one refuses to, there is something psychologically wrong with them. I live in the US and miss the warmth, generosity, and affection of home. Sharing brought joy to everyone. I am developing a Botho/Ubuntu training and would love to interview you – it would be invaluable. Hope you are willing. Thanks
As a storyteller, I have embraced this story as my “signature story” to share with our children live and virtually…the story is about our human connection and the philosophy is a way of life. I lived in Zimbabwe for a month where it is also well known as a form of the golden rule “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” It was “UBUNTU” that allowed colonizers to overtake African countries…even though Livingston and his gang were first thought to be gods who dropped out of the clouds because of their skin color…they were later seen as fellow humans and treated as such, welcomed, given land to live on…however this kindness allowed Leopold and others, infiltrate and destroy many African countries. The modern-day UBUNTU lifestyle allowed Mandela to peacefully sit in prison for 27 YEARS, for the good of his people and his country. UBUNTU was practiced after apartheid supposedly ended… as a way of healing a country…how? By broadcasting the real-life horror stories of that cruel system it allowed both sides to heal and see the humanity in one another. I LOVE UBUNTU…I wrote a children’s song and bring it to open storytelling programs, and told the story under UMOJA/UNITY on my Kwanzaa Time podcast. However, while I’m not an actress I have uploaded my rough version on YouTube of the story and song. I welcome any and all storytellers to join me in spreading stories based on this philosophy on Facebook, as Ubuntu Storytellers. Racist? Only racists see it as racist…I love telling this glorious story to anyone who will listen, it transcends culture, politics, and religions. Live it, love it, be UBUNTU…. thank you for allowing my input because it’s living energy to connect and unite us in our humanity! UBUNTU! I am because we are!