Ubuntu Ideality: The Solution to Xenophobic Practice in South African

Okoro Kingsley N, Nkama Chinyere Lilian

The current xenophobic outbreak in South Africa has elicited various reactions and concern from diverse circles. This concern stems from the fact that South African just came out of apartheid regime with the support of other nations, including Africa. During the struggle, Black leader anchored their struggle on a Socio-Religious and political philosophy, styled 'Ubuntu' in Zhosa/Zulu word. 'Ubuntu' defines human relationship in terms of universal brotherhood of all persons. It abhors discrimination of any sort. Ubuntu as philosophy of social and humane living promotes conviviality, humanity, propriety etc. However, few year into democratic South Africa, xenophobia resumed the centre-stage of the nation's polity. The question is why the sudden paradigm shift from love to hate? It is in an attempt to proffer plausible answer to this question that this research is designed and executed. Using the sociological and historical method, the researchers discovered that xenophobia is alien to African culture and its entrance into Africa is inspired by various horrendous circumstances. Notably, xenophobia in South Africa is a reaction to socio-political and economic circumstances in the country. Therefore, this paper concludes that if African, and particularly South Africa, the home of Ubuntu, must know peace and eliminate xenophobia in the continent, she must re-study and re-tool her traditional philosophy of social and humane living notched out in Ubuntu ideality. It is in the practice of Ubuntu that African nations will find their relevance in the global village.