Politics of the body, fear and ubuntu: Proposing an African women’s theology of disability

Abstract

There is increasing research on the inclusion and exclusion of people with disabilities in African spaces, which are perpetuated by religious and cultural fear. Decision to shun or embrace people is defined by the politics of the body and influenced by the religion and culture of fear. In politics of the body, women are discriminated against because their bodies are often controlled and put under surveillance. Women with disabilities experience this discrimination more than their able-bodied counterparts and men with disabilities. Written from the perspective of the ethic of ubuntu, this article examines the fear of disability among the Ndebele of Matetsi in Zimbabwe, as well as how the politics of the body are used by women with disabilities to denounce this fear. These women described how they used (in childhood) and (adulthood) and still use their bodies to call for inclusion in their communities. The article employs findings from the politics of the body emerging from the narratives of women with disabilities to propose an African women’s theology of disability.Contribution: The article problematises fear of disability as a cause of discrimination and exclusion of differently abled people particularly women with. It therefore proposes an African women’s theology of disability that is informed by the interdisciplinary approach of Ubuntu promoting the inclusion of all people including women with disabilities into the web of life.

Religion and Health in a COVID-19 Context : Experiences from Zimbabwe

“…Ubuntu or hunhu involves the communal spirit of empathy as well as physical presence to convey one's heartfelt sympathy or empathy to one's neighbor. It underlines the humanity, interdependence and interconnectedness of the individual and the community (Chigangaidze, Matanga & Nyatsuro, 2022;Chisale, 2022). Thus, in the context of a misfortune, African culture demands the physical presence of an individual in a bid to act in solidarity with either the bereaved or the sick.…”

“…Lingam and Sapkal (2020:178) have highlighted the effects of the social distance when they observe "growing concerns expressed about the potential loss of solidarity, support and community that is required in such difficult circumstances leading to depressions, suicidal tendencies and intimate partner violence." Chisale (2022) aptly has stated that COVID-19, through promoting a privacy that is dangerous to vulnerable groups such as women and children, has disrupted Ubuntu.…”

“…This, however, does not mean the Ubuntu values were totally eradicated. A significant number of researchers agree that this spirit was not exterminated by COVID-19 (Chigangaidze, Matanga & Nyatsuro, 2022;Chisale, 2022). Scholars have highlighted how the effects of lockdowns have been alleviated by online interaction (Ahmad, 2022), not only for educational, business or information dissemination but for social support and human warmth in the context of Ubuntu (Makoe & Shantu-Phetla, 2019).…”

Physical distancing – Necessity or Luxury? : Culture, population density and COVID-19 in Zimbabwean Society

“…Ubuntu (Ramose 1999) or hunhu (Samkange & Samkange, 1980) involves the communal spirit of empathy as well as physical presence to convey one's heartfelt sympathy or empathy to one's neighbor. It underlines the humanity, interdependence and interconnectedness of the individual and the community (Chigangaidze, Matanga & Nyatsuro, 2022;Chisale, 2022). Thus, in the context of a misfortune, African culture demands the physical presence of an individual in a bid to act in solidarity with either the bereaved or the sick.…”

Promoting regional coherence and cohesion amidst multiple assistive technology initiatives in Africa

“…Where ubuntu is practiced, equality, interdependence and interconnectedness follows despite differences in race, gender and abilities. However, disability, through its contradiction of the norm, often evokes cultural and religious fear that alienates people from each other; rendering ubuntu lost (Chisale 2020 ). Disability therefore offers a challenge to ubuntu; at the same time ubuntu offers a powerful mechanism for countering the stigma that so often ‘others’ and marginalises people with disability.…”