Ubuntu And The Truth Commission Analysis

Ubu and the truth commission depict a character derived from Jarry rather than represent a specific character in South African history. Ubu stands for a characteristic, inclination or excuse in this specific instance. The language in the play is directly drawn from actual testimonials from the truth and reconciliation process (TRC) after the apartheid in South Africa (Kentridge & Taylor, 1998: 4).
In 1996 the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, started a colossal amount of work. With the purpose of finding and soliciting South African’s who considered themselves agents, survivors or victims of the apartheid era. These people would testify before a national forum with complete amnesty. This process had goals to determine lost histories,
Ubuntu. Ubuntu says I am human only because you are human. If I undermine your humanity I dehumanize myself. You must do what you can to maintain this great harmony, which is perpetually undermined by resentment, anger and desire for vengeance “That’s why African jurisprudence is restorative rather that retributive” (Tutu, 1996, N.P.)
These words depict the state the nation found itself in. South Africans, had had enough of violence and brutality and the victims of apartheid were willing to face their perpetrators and deal with their deeply rooted anxieties (Horn,1991:1-4).
Since the earliest theatre in Greece, tragedies have lent them self to theatre. The account and purposes of judicial proceeding have always had blatantly exhibited dramatic value. South African truth and reconciliation commission embraces performances as a central report of its functions. While secondary literature on the TRC is immense, scholars have yet fully tackled this distinctive and significant characteristic, of commissions that were conducted behind closed doors, and they usually became public via publication of final report (Cole, 2007:
She would rather, let him face his own personal problems, than work for a states ideologies, she does not conform to. It is also interesting to note, that Pa seldom speaks in the first person but always says “we” when referring to himself and Brutus his henchman (Taylor, 1997:3). The two personalities are deeply intertwined. This is done to justify and project his horrendous operation and demonstrates the lack of responsibility Pa takes for his own actions. By involving the three other personalities of Brutus- consisting of a general, politician and foot soldier, it seems that Pa’s actions are being justified because he is guided by people in more powerful positions than he is (Kentridge & Taylor, 1998:6-7). This ties into countless narratives, that arouse after apartheid and during the Truth and Reconciliation commission specifically. Countless people justified their actions, by stating that they had acted out of tremendous pressure and fear dictated by the authoritarian rule at the