Elders Decry the Loss of Ubuntu

Abstract

This paper reports the findings of a study conducted on the issues surrounding ubuntu. It addresses the questions: What is ubuntu? What has happened to ubuntu? Five elders were selected from Akasia in the north of Pretoria and interviewed. Several themes emanating from the findings reveal challenges that ubuntu faces in response to the question of what has happened to ubuntu. The elders’ definition of ubuntu places children at the centre, that is, ubuntu is the way children relate to the elderly in terms of respect that they must show. In conclusion I suggest an ubuntu mode in figure 1, which is opposed to the individualism mode in figure 2.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n10p67