Nelson Mandela and the Power of Ubuntu

Abstract

Nelson Mandela dedicated his life to fighting for the freedom of his South African kin of all colors against the institution of apartheid. He spent twenty-seven years fighting from within prison, only gaining his freedom when his fellow South Africans could claim it as well. This article demonstrates how his faith, his spiritual development and his noble purpose can be conceptualized through the lens of Ubuntu: the African ethic of community, unity, humanity and harmony

The Oral Interaction Between Students and Teachers in Higher Education

“…The African(a) philosophy of Ubuntu recognises the same idea, often concluded in the famous words of Nelson Mandela: "A person is a person through other persons" or "I am because we are" (see e.g. Oppenheim 2012). It follows that we are by necessity malleable: we cannot help being 'formed' and affected by our experiences.…”

From a ‘terrorist’ to global icon: a critical decolonial ethical tribute to Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela of South Africa

“…35 Decoloniality gestures towards pluriversality, a world within which many worlds fit harmoniously and coexist peacefully. Mandela's push for ubuntu ('the African ethic of community, unity, humanity and harmony' 36 ) and a 'rainbow nation' are typical examples of the decolonial horizon. 37 According to Maldonado-Torres, this post-1492 modern world-system was driven by Western warriors and conquerors.…”

Ancient Wisdom for Ethical Leadership: Ubuntu and the Ethic of Ecosophy

“…An excellent exemplar of Ubuntu leadership is unquestionably Nelson Mandela (Oppenheim, ). Entire volumes might be written on how Ubuntu informed the leadership of Nelson Mandela and how Ubuntu leadership might manifest itself within the 21st century Industry 4.0 context.…”

“…In Table , possible contextual applications for leaders who wish to learn about and exemplify Ubuntu as an ecosophic leadership approach. These suggestions are adapted from Oppenheim's () excellent article reviewing the intersection of Ubuntu and the leadership of Nelson Mandela.…”

“…The Ubuntu worldview might, in turn, produce a meaningful ethic to empower leadership to better relate to self, one another, and to the earth in which we live and upon which all of us depend for life and living. Ubuntu is not an ethereal concept without depth or breadth since its utility to shape the sitz im leben of real people in meaningful ways is highlighted by a range of authors (Le Grange, ; Metz, ; Oppenheim, ; Vandermolen et al, ; Volmink, ; Worthington, ). As one author suggested (Regine, ), “The great leaders of the 21st century will have Ubuntu” (p. 17).…”