Guest speaker shares concept of “Ubuntu”

October 4, 2022

Today, Mary Njeri Kinyanjui, Ph.D., visited STA’s Honors World Literature class to share her vast knowledge about the Principles of Ubuntu — the solidarity economy, or communitarian spirit, in Africa — which emphasizes working together, humanity, and leaving no other human behind. Dr. Kinyanjui is an accomplished writer and scholar from Nairobi, Kenya, and currently is Activist-in-Residence at Avila University.

The discussion addressed ways in which society as a whole is interconnected, with particular focus on principles in African society. Ubuntu loosely refers to the concept of humanity and is sometimes expressed as “I am because we are and because we are therefore I am.” Kinyanjui shared Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s interpretation of Ubuntu as “the interconnectedness of human beings,” emphasizing the need to work together to support one another in order to survive. The presentation coincided closely with the students’ reading of Homegoing by Ghanaian author Yaa Gyasi.

The reference to Ubuntu was a key theme at the CSJ Federation event this past summer, during which STA President Dr. May-Washington spoke.

Dr. Mary Njeri Kinyanjui, accomplished writer and scholar from Nairobi, Kenya, and current Activist-in-Residence at Avila University