Edc1015 Assignment2

www.ubunturesearch.co.za

South Africa [e-mail] UBUNTU
AFRICAN LIFE COPING
SKILLS
Theory and practice
- DR JOHANN BROODRYK

Paper delivered at CCEAM Conference
Conference theme: Recreating Linkages between
Theory and Praxis in Educational Leadership
12 – 17 October 2006:
Lefkosia (Nicosia): CYPRUS

UBUNTU: AFRICAN LIFE COPING SKILLS
Theory and practice
- Dr Johann Broodryk
INTRODUCTION
In this paper Ubuntu (the Zulu word meaning “humanness”) is discussed in context of its relationship with ancient African values, life coping skills and the consequent practical outcomes when these skills are applied.
It will be argued that these human-based life coping skills of Africa are ready for exportation to the global world, since their applications will benefit all leaders on all levels and countries all over the world.
A comparison will also be made with the internationally acclaimed positive life guidelines of Dale Carnegie, influential American writer, to indicate that that Ubuntu life coping skills have the potential of being relevant and applicable to other cultures as well.
As the Black Conscious Movement leader Steve Biko (1970:46) declared:
“The great powers of the world may have done wonders in giving the world an industrial and military look, but the great still has to come from Africa - giving the world a more human face”
Ubuntu as an ancient philosophy or worldview has its roots deeply anchored in traditional African life.
It is defined as the “art of being a human being” (Bhengu, 1996: 10).
A more comprehensive definition is: Ubuntu is an ancient African worldview based on the primary values of intense humanness, caring, sharing, respect, compassion and associated values, ensuring a happy and qualitative human community life in the spirit of family.
(Broodryk, 2002:56)
These primary values are not abstract, and since they form the foundations of the Ubuntu life coping skills, the values will

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