ubuntu.

chanced upon this story sometime back and it really got my brain juices churning. so i shared it and i hope it inspired them:
an anthropologist proposed a game to the kids in an African tribe. He put a basket full of fruit near a tree and told the kids that whoever got there first won the sweet fruits. When he told them to run they all took each other’s hands and ran together, then sat together enjoying their treats. When he asked them why they had run like that as one could have had all the fruits for himself they said: ‘‘UBUNTU how can one of us be happy if all the other ones are sad?''

so i got down to researching, and the best translation i got was by Leymah Gbowee: "I am what I am because of who we all are". it's true. nothing exists in isolation, everything is interconnected. you are who you are because of the people around you, shaping circumstances. a leader is one because of the followers who respect him/her, a follower follows because a leader exists to lead him/her. else, she/he would just be a wanderer. yet, the world has developed and evolved into one that is predominantly individualistic, sad to say. they would rush for the basket, whether through legitimate or unscrupulous means, just to gorge themselves silly for the sweet taste of success.

according to [Bill Clinton’s] explanation, ubuntu means "I am, because you are". In fact, the word ubuntu is just part of the Zulu phrase "umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu", which literally means that a person is a person through other people. Ubuntu has its roots in humanist African philosophy, where the idea of community is one of the building blocks of society. ubuntu is that nebulous concept of common humanity, oneness: humanity, you and me both (The Guardian, 2006) .

and since the time i've heard this song, i've been meaning and itching to share it. and i did (: sad to say however, cat got my tongue, and i wasn't as eloquent as i envisioned myself to be. well, perhaps such inspirational material require a more glib, empowering tongue than mine. but nonetheless, i brought it through. so the lyrics shall do the talking from here.

Son of Man by Phill Collins
Oh, the power to be strong and the wisdom to be wise
All these things will come to you in time
On this journey that you're making, there'll be answers that you'll seek
And it's you who'll climb the mountain, it's you who'll reach the peak

Son of Man, look to the sky
Lift your spirit, set it free
Some day you'll walk tall with pride
Son of Man, a man in time you'll be

Though there's no one there to guide you, no one to take your hand
But with faith and understanding, you will journey from boy to man

In learning you will teach and in teaching you will learn
You'll find your place beside the ones you love
Oh, and all the things you dreamed of, the visions that you saw
Well, the time is drawing near now, it's yours to claim in all

Son of Man, look to the sky
Lift your spirit, set it free
Some day you'll walk tall with pride
Son of Man, a man in time you'll be

i'm glad i took this leap of faith.
i'm glad You brought me through
for this 101% of mine, is but less than 1% of Yours.