I am an African
To many people who have not originated from Africa the mention of the name Africa brings to
mind a dark continent that everyone looks down upon; poverty, slavery, and colonialism. For me,
the mention of the name Africa brings to my mind my birthright, my culture and most importantly
my home, a place where I belong.
I am an African. I was born and bred in Africa. I have black skin and kinky hair but that’s not all
that defines me as an African. Being African is in me. I take pride in who I am and adhere to a set
of ethics, ideas and lifestyle. In Africa is where I belong. A continent of various cultures where I
proudly take part in showing off my own traditions and culture with no fear of being judged or
laughed at because in Africa we have learnt to accept and appreciate everyone and our differences.
We accommodate one another as brothers and sisters.
After coming from a history of pain and suffering, and always feeling resentful and discouraged,
remembering that I am an African is heartwarming. It means I am not defined by my past and the
history of Africa is not a story that represents me. It means I am strong and I am able to rise to the
challenges that I face and find ways to improve the quality of my life and also of my fellow African
brothers and sisters.
Ubuntu and Attack on foreigners
Ubuntu is the core of the African continent and it is extremely important. It is valuing the people
in your community and every human being at large above your own self-interest. Ubuntu creates
oneness among people no matter your backgrounds or social statuses. In Shona there is a saying
“munhu munhu navamwe” meaning a person is a person through other people. As people we
proclaim our brotherly love when we appreciate that of others.
The attacks on foreigners known as xenophobia is a personal racism against immigrants from other
African countries. It is the complete opposite of Ubuntu because people with Ubuntu are kind,
thoughtful and welcoming to their fellow African brothers and sisters. Because of the hatred being
planted amongst us, the spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood is deteriorating. Some people are
forgetting the importance of Ubuntu (welcoming and being kind to strangers), something that was
implanted in our culture.
In light of the xenophobic attacks that happened in South Africa, it was observed that not all South
Africans were xenophobic. The spirit of Ubuntu still lived amongst some of our fellow brothers
and sisters and it became more alive as people came together to support and give assistance where
needed. This showed that only the people who are not welcoming, the ones who don’t have Ubuntu
practice xenophobia.
Communal life and togetherness
People need a community because human lives can only be fulfilled in a community. We need
each other in order to lead a life that is socially, spiritually and politically fulfilling. Communal
life keeps people together and Ubuntu enforces it. There is an African proverb that says “the hen
with chicks doesn’t swallow the worm.” The concept in this proverb is parental care, helping others
To many people who have not originated from Africa the mention of the name Africa brings to
mind a dark continent that everyone looks down upon; poverty, slavery, and colonialism. For me,
the mention of the name Africa brings to my mind my birthright, my culture and most importantly
my home, a place where I belong.
I am an African. I was born and bred in Africa. I have black skin and kinky hair but that’s not all
that defines me as an African. Being African is in me. I take pride in who I am and adhere to a set
of ethics, ideas and lifestyle. In Africa is where I belong. A continent of various cultures where I
proudly take part in showing off my own traditions and culture with no fear of being judged or
laughed at because in Africa we have learnt to accept and appreciate everyone and our differences.
We accommodate one another as brothers and sisters.
After coming from a history of pain and suffering, and always feeling resentful and discouraged,
remembering that I am an African is heartwarming. It means I am not defined by my past and the
history of Africa is not a story that represents me. It means I am strong and I am able to rise to the
challenges that I face and find ways to improve the quality of my life and also of my fellow African
brothers and sisters.
Ubuntu and Attack on foreigners
Ubuntu is the core of the African continent and it is extremely important. It is valuing the people
in your community and every human being at large above your own self-interest. Ubuntu creates
oneness among people no matter your backgrounds or social statuses. In Shona there is a saying
“munhu munhu navamwe” meaning a person is a person through other people. As people we
proclaim our brotherly love when we appreciate that of others.
The attacks on foreigners known as xenophobia is a personal racism against immigrants from other
African countries. It is the complete opposite of Ubuntu because people with Ubuntu are kind,
thoughtful and welcoming to their fellow African brothers and sisters. Because of the hatred being
planted amongst us, the spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood is deteriorating. Some people are
forgetting the importance of Ubuntu (welcoming and being kind to strangers), something that was
implanted in our culture.
In light of the xenophobic attacks that happened in South Africa, it was observed that not all South
Africans were xenophobic. The spirit of Ubuntu still lived amongst some of our fellow brothers
and sisters and it became more alive as people came together to support and give assistance where
needed. This showed that only the people who are not welcoming, the ones who don’t have Ubuntu
practice xenophobia.
Communal life and togetherness
People need a community because human lives can only be fulfilled in a community. We need
each other in order to lead a life that is socially, spiritually and politically fulfilling. Communal
life keeps people together and Ubuntu enforces it. There is an African proverb that says “the hen
with chicks doesn’t swallow the worm.” The concept in this proverb is parental care, helping others
