Ubuntu

Art Tara Dominick

There’s a famous South African word, which I believe might be Zulu: “Ubuntu”.

I’m told it means “I am because we are” and I like it because it’s a word describing human connection, often so lacking in our world.

I learnt the word from a friend who grew up and worked for all of his early years in South African photography and theatre, before going on to teach at a few of the London drama schools. His name was Brian Astbury and sadly, he’s no longer with us.

When I think about Brian I usually return to the concept of Ubuntu – ‘I am because we are’

It’s a gift of a word because it has the audacity to suggest that we exist to enrich each other, and whilst it’s important to acknowledge that by accident of birth, geography, historical events and decisions made by the powerful, our pathways through life on earth are often widely different, but despite it all we still we are somehow capable of making ourselves available to be reflections of each others humanity, encourage each other and learn from each others stories, whilst supporting each other where we can – and it’s not all about money but knowing it’s our common humanity that unites us.

In that spirit I share the concept of Ubuntu.