Ubuntu – A symphony of togetherness

I recently attended a week-long event organised by my employer. Personally, the week was something I anticipated so much because it was my first in-person meeting with my colleagues since I joined the team eight months ago. And amidst all the breakout sessions we had throughout, there was one that stood out for me. It was a session we all dedicated to ourselves, over 100 of us, across 20+ countries. Themed ‘Appreciation of Differences’, the sesssion was anchored on the concept of Ubuntu, an African philosophy that emphasises our shared humanity and interconnectedness. It is often translated as “I am because we are”

It was a memorable experience that reinforced our commitment to celebrating our diversity and fostering inclusivity in our workplace.

Coincidentally, that same night, I had the opportunity to write and perform a piece on Ubuntu. It was a fitting tribute to the theme of our gathering and a powerful way to remind ourselves that Ubuntu is not found only in big acts of service, but also in small moments of kindness and goodness. It is a pleasure to share with you all, too.

Ubuntu…

It has travelled across times and ages at the speed of light

It was passed down from mothers to their daughters, just like my grandmother gifted my mother her diamond-studded ring

It is a rhythmic song written to remember that wars are only known for two things, scars and destruction

It is an age-old mantra, lofted high to remind us of what we were before our embers fizzled out

If you’ve heard of Ubuntu’s valour from the hushed whispers of ancient sages, that is indeed correct

If you’ve read of its binding power in age-old tomes and weathered parchments, that is indeed correct, too

And if you’ve felt its potent force from the words of Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, Vusi Gumede, Mogobe Ramose and other footprints in the sands of time, that is very much right

It is a song at the end of the battle

A call to mend what’s been rattled 

A melody of unity, rising above the broken strings of Kora

A symphony of togetherness, showing the true power in our connection

It is the echo of peace when the conflict is done

A gift that reminds us that we are truly one

So, in the face of chaos and divisions, it makes sense to seek the calm that follows the storm

In the aftermath of the turmoil, peace becomes a precious gem

And leaning on another’s shoulder makes sense when yours is weary from bearing the armour of war

So, in some ways, Ubuntu means playing your part in my redemption story

In other ways, it means giving me the space to write my chapters of glory

In some ways, it means helping me find my way in a haze while you hold the torch 

In other ways, it is letting me connect my dots of freedom, away from you

In some ways, it means holding off the sunset because you still want to plough

In other ways, it is sheathing your sword, because you’ve fought enough today

So stop searching for it in the deepest part of the oceans because it is not there

Don’t look for it beneath the flaps of the sky; it is not there either

It is right here, beside you

So, if you have felt the warm smile of the person beside you, then you know Ubuntu

If you’ve touched the warm handshakes of two rivals burying the hatchet, then you  know Ubuntu

If you’ve felt the unity of a community coming together to clean a public park, then you know Ubuntu

If you have felt a surge of confidence in the reassuring words of a stranger, then you know Ubuntu

If you have touched warm memories in the farewell gifts of your teammates, then you know Ubuntu

If you have shared laughter over a piece of cake or mindless chatter, then you know Ubuntu

So do me a favour tonight, look at the person beside you and tell them

It is not you or I, it is both of us uniting to create the world we want 

It is not you against me, it is both of us finding expression in our individuality and togetherness

Ubuntu, I am because we are

©Iyanu Fatoba