Ubuntu is a concept that originates from Southern Africa, particularly among theBantu-speaking peoples. While the term has various interpretations and expressions across different cultures and contexts, one of the most well-known articulations comes from the Nguni Bantu languages, where Ubuntu is often translated as "I am because we are" or "humanity towards others." "Ubuntu" as a political philosophy encourages mutual support and community equity. The name also differs by country, such as in:
- Angola (gimuntu),
- Botswana (muthu),
- Burundi (ubuntu),
- Cameroon (bato),
- Congo (bantu),
- Congo Democratic Republic (bomoto/bantu),
- Kenya (utu/munto/mondo),
- Malawi (umunthu),
- Mozambique (vumuntu),
- Namibia (omundu),
- Rwanda (ubuntu),
- South Africa (ubuntu/botho),
- Tanzania (utu/obuntu/bumuntu),
- Uganda (obuntu),
- Zambia (umunthu/ubuntu) and
- Zimbabwe (Ubuntu, unhu or hunhu)
Ubuntu is also found in other Bantu countries. There may be different definitions in different regions, but they all point to one thing – “an authentic individual human being is part of a larger and more significant relational, communal, societal, environmental and spiritual world.”
