by Mungi Ngomane
Date: Wednesday, April 3 at 9 AM PST
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Cost: Suggested donation $10 US.
We will offer this program free to those whose resources are limited.
Watch the Recording of the Program
Mungi Ngomane, granddaughter of Nobel Peace Prize–winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu, offers an introduction to ubuntu, the Southern African philosophy that celebrates the universal human bond in this beautiful definitive guide, illustrated with full-color photos and filled with lessons on how to live harmoniously with all people.
This book will open your eyes, mind and heart
to a way of being in the world that will make our world
a better and more caring one.
~ Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Ubuntu is a Xhosa word originating from a South African philosophy that encapsulates all our aspirations about how to live life well, together. It is the belief in a universal human bond: I am only because you are. And it means that if you are able to see everyone as fully human, connected to you by their humanity, you will never be able to treat others as disposable or without worth. By embracing the philosophy of ubuntu and living it out in daily life it’s possible to overcome division and be stronger together in a world where the wise build bridges, not walls.
These 14 lessons from the Rainbow Nation are an essential toolkit to helping us all to live better, together. In stories that recognize our common humanity, our connectedness and interdependence, Everyday Ubuntu helps to make sense of the world and our place in it. Exploring ideas of kindness and forgiveness, tolerance and the power of listening, it shows how we can all benefit from embracing others. Including practical applications and mindful exercises, it is an inspirational guide to a more fulfilling life as part of the large family to which we all belong.
About the Author Mungi Ngomane
Author, Human Rights Activist, Operations Leader & Project Manager Mungi, a passionate advocate for Middle East peace, women's rights, and the philosophy of 'Ubuntu,' collaborates with global organizations and startups to create meaningful impact. With a background in management consulting, she excels in strategy, project management, and interpersonal communication, recognizing its profound effect on individuals, teams, and humanity at large.
Currently, as the Managing Director of Mungi Global LLC and most recently as Senior Associate at Banff Advisors, Mungi works alongside a community of exceptional leaders dedicated to growth and development. She has successfully collaborated with numerous impact-driven clients to shape and expand their initiatives, including prestigious organizations such as The Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development and the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (formerly known as Ocean Unite).
As the author of "Everyday Ubuntu'' and former podcast host, Mungi's work revolves around acknowledging our shared humanity. Her commitment to advocacy led her to serve as a Senior Business Operations Manager at Impactive, where she streamlined processes and scaled digital outreach to promote voter participation and civic engagement within progressive and Democratic campaigns during the 2020 election.
Prior to Impactive, Mungi supported a national, bipartisan campaign, Millions of Conversations, addressing Islamophobia and discrimination in the U.S.
She acts as an Advisor to Atalanta, a strategic communications and global public affairs agency committed to creating lasting impact on issues of vital importance to people and the planet. She previously served on the board of the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation and is currently the Patron for the Tutu Foundation UK.
Mungi holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the American University and a Master's in International Studies and Diplomacy from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. Her unwavering belief that together, we can achieve more than alone underscores and guides every aspect of her work.
Visit Ms.Ngomane's LinkedIn profile or her Website
About the facilitator
Babalwa Ngcongolo is a diversity, equity and transformation consultant, a social justice educator, activist and facilitator. Her work focuses on engaging young people on the challenges and opportunities for creating new and future focused solutions for social cohesion, peace and justice.
Ngcongolo has experience working with schools, universities, the civil and private sector to develop and implement strategic processes for dialogue, collaboration and community building on a global, local and institutional level.
Ngcongolo has coordinated youth leadership programs, developed diversity curricula and facilitated diversity-focused interventions for national and international audiences. Her work aims to instill an intersectional context so as to unearth the interconnectedness of the world's most pressing issues, and the systemic solutions that may emanate from this nuanced lens.
Ngcongolo has been trained and has experience in Design Thinking, Interfaith Collaboration, Peace-building and Inclusive Leadership methodologies. These influence her role in facilitating dialogue that is empathetic, yet challenging of norms that are rooted in discrimination and injustice.
Ngcongolo aspires to codify equity, justice and kindness in to the simplest and most complex interactions across all communities.
She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree majoring in Economics and Finance from the University of Cape Town (UCT) in South Africa.
Visit Ms. Ngcongolo's LinkedIn profile
We are very excited to have Pato Banton and Antoinette Rootsdawtah join us to share with us their journey and collaboration with film director Kudzai Tinago in completing the award winning documentary “The Spirit of Ubuntu.”
I Am because We Are - We Are because I Am
Award winning film director Kudzai Tinago teams up with grammy nominated reggae legend Pato Banton and world renowned keyboard player Antoinette Rootsdawtah on an amazing journey across the continent of Africa to explore and document the ancient philosophy of Ubuntu. An idea that has its roots in the Bantu dialect, meaning “I Am because We Are” illustrating the interconnectedness of all Humanity. The documentary also focuses on some the most dynamic and visionary leaders across Africa who practice the teachings of Ubuntu in their daily work to improve the lives of the people in their local and surrounding communities.
Visit the website for The Spirit of Ubuntu.
About Pato Banton
Minister Pato Banton aka “BrotherFriend” is an internationally renowned Reggae Legend, whose four-decade career has earned him a Grammy Nomination and a place in the British Music Hall of Fame. Pato also received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his tireless community work and his successful efforts to help reduce gun crime across his hometown of Birmingham, UK. His journey has increasingly transcended the music business into arenas of youth outreach, teaching in schools, colleges & prisons, writing new curriculum for children with learning disabilities, Music Outreach Workshops around the world for “at risk” young people in disadvantaged communities and Global Spiritual Ministry.
In 2018, Pato and his wife Antoinette Rootsdawtah were presented with the “Unity Earth ~ Keepers Of The Flame Award” and later that year they were both appointed as “Goodwill Ambassadors of the Golden Rule” by the United Religions Initiative.
In 2019 their Spiritual Family won the “URI Hermes Award” for creative collaboration and communications with other Cooperation Circles around the world and shortly thereafter they were both invited to become official members of the Evolutionary Leaders Circle, a dynamic and visionary project of the Source of Synergy Foundation.
Pato and Antoinette’s most recent project is a Movie Documentary entitled The Spirit Of Ubuntu, which is due for release in January 2024.
Now based in Southern California, Pato continues to record and tour the world extensively, promoting peace and spirituality, while simultaneously serving as a Teacher, Counselor, Mentor & “Minister of the verb.”
About Antoinette Rootsdawtah
Antoinette “Rootsdawtah” Hall is a world renowned keyboardist in the Reggae Industry. She became involved in the Spiritual Community after working with Pato Banton and joining his Global Mission of Spreading the Good News that “we’re all God’s Children, brothers & sisters.”
In early 2018, Pato Banton & Antoinette Rootsdawtah were presented with the prestigious “Unity Earth ~ Keepers Of The Flame Award” by Ben Bowler and later that year they were both appointed as “Goodwill Ambassadors of the Golden Rule” by Ambassador Mussie of the United Religions Initiative ~ Africa. In 2019 they won the “URI Hermes Award” for creative collaboration and communications with other Cooperation Circles around the world and shortly thereafter they were both invited to become official members of the Evolutionary Leaders Circle, a dynamic and visionary project of the Source of Synergy Foundation.
Antoinette’s spiritual communities also include, The Holo Movement, Peace by 2030, Minister Pato Banton’s Spiritual Family, Urantia Aspirations, Ministers For Christ Michael, Daughter’s of the Divine Mother, Unity Earth, URI Multiregion, Bridging the Divide & COEXIST! Her present musical works include the “The Rootsdawtah Collective”, “Thoughts of Paradise” Meditation CD, “The Words Of Christ” “Words of Rastafari” & the “Joyful and Happy” soundtrack which is featured in the spiritually motivated documentary called “Return to Happiness.” And now about to release her debut album “Here Comes The Rootsdawtah.”
In 2020 Pato Banton & Antoinette established their Non-Profit Organization EDENTIA to support their Local, National & Global Spiritual Ministry. After acquiring 31 acres of land in Lake Elsinore, they are now planning to establish an Eco Village & Spiritual Retreat Center. Edentia has recently achieved Church Status. (www.edentia.us)
During the George Floyd outcry and demonstrations across America, Antoinette Rootsdawtah started the nonprofit organization Stand Up For Justice (www.standupforjustice.us) which is a grassroots movement, bringing diverse people together locally, nationally and internationally, to expose injustice and work towards progressive solutions.
Photo credit Andy Samarasena
