Congratulations
to Michelle Wallace who is celebrating her 3rd blogoversary and has
asked us to join her in the Ubuntu blog hop 18th – 21stFebruary: what a wonderful way to spring forwards in 2014.
U is
for Ubuntu ... a Xhosa word, simply: I am; because of you or I am what I am because of who we all are.
L is
for Londolozi ... a Zulu word meaning ‘Protector
of All Living Things’.
 |
| c/o Londolozi |
When I
posted my A –Z tribute to Nelson Mandela in December ... I noted during the
Memorial address that President Obama, with his African roots, described how
Nelson Mandela had come to embrace the philosophy of 'Ubuntu' ... human kindness
...
... various
journalists highlighted the word ‘Ubuntu’
... implying that it was Archbishop Desmond Tutu who had brought the concept to
the world’s attention.
However
I have found this absolutely fascinating TED talk and article given by the owner of
Londolozi, whose family had named the game reserve after the Zulu word: Protector of All Living Things.
I have
yet to listen to and watch the TED talk but know that I will ... there is so much
evocativeness in Africa ...
Going
back to Boyd Varty’s TED Women 2013 talk ... the accompanying article gave us relevant
paragraphs on Ubuntu, with some amazing links:
The history ... its
early use in print, was in 1846
Desmond
Tutu’s take ... (early 90s)
Nelson
Mandela’s take ... (2006)
Bill
Clinton’s take ... (2007 TED prize
winner)
Ubuntu,
the operating system ... who knew?!
Ubuntu
in basketball ... again who knew?!
Ubuntu
to turn back climate change? This
paragraph is well worth reading ... (2012)
I heard
Ray Stevens’ song “Everything is Beautiful” yesterday and thought yes – a good
Ubuntu song ... enjoy.
Please
see Michelle’s post 1095 days for all the Ubuntu bloghoppers ... which reminds
me of the wonderful little Lily Trotter bird!
In myA-Z for Mandela, I also used C for Colossus and Courageous: the man who united
rich and poor, black and white, and in the process of leadership, since his
release, has taught the human race the power of forgiveness.
Now I
add two more letters: P for Protector of
All Living Things ...
and H
for Human Impact on the Environment
... all
inspired by the word Ubuntu ...
Please think on and remember these things ... thanks Michelle ...
... and enjoy the TED Talk and article
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
