LAST WORD
THE EFFICACY OF ‘INTERDEPENDENCE’ Umntu ngumntu ngabantu/motho ke motho kabatho - human beings are interdependent and do not exist in isolation from one another. This is an important lesson, often pointed out by African philosophers who have reflected on the meaning of life from the Ubuntu/Botho philosophical perspectives, that we should never forget, writes Simphiwe Sesanti.
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oung people are often taught the importance of “independence” but not given the enabling tools to be “independent”. Outside the context of “interdependence”, this may lead to a lack of confidence and low self-esteem when you have grown up poor and vulnerable. Over-confidence and arrogance, on the other hand, are often the result when you have grown up with supporting, enabling tools or foundations. An academic certificate does not guarantee you a job and seeing graduates without jobs can leave those not yet qualified without hope. It should be remembered, even in this state of hopelessness, that a qualified person stands a better chance of securing a job than an unqualified person. It must be emphasised that a person who has no sense of hope does not have a reason to live and is as good as dead. You need to learn that hope and a sense of determination are important to achieve your dreams regardless of how gloomy the situation may be. History has shown us great figures who, during the ‘worst’ of their moments have performed the ‘best’ of their deeds. Such figures have been presented as
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‘extra-ordinary’ human beings, yet this has not been the case. Great achievers, as the wise among us have pointed out, have not been ‘extra-ordinary’ human beings, but ‘ordinary’ human beings who have performed ‘extraordinary’ deeds.
Look at challenging times as opportunities to bring out the best in you As you leave school, anxious and confronted by uncertainties, you could look at these challenging times as opportunities to bring out the best in you. In your quest to succeed, remember to face challenges not only with determination and confidence, which can easily turn into aggression and arrogance, but also with a sense of humility. Humility means that you should not be shy to ask for support and guidance, even as you aim to act ‘independently’. Independence should go along with interdependence. Such is the teaching of Ubuntu/Botho philosophy – Umntu ngumntu ngabantu/ motho ke motho kabatho – our humanity
TH E U LT I M AT E C A R E ER GU ID E SPRING 2 0 2 1
Simphiwe Sesanti is a professor at the University of the Western Cape’s (UWC) Faculty of Education
gets fulfilled by exercising interdependence with our fellow human beings. As you forge ahead, support each other instead of being involved in destructive competition. Ubuntu/ Botho places a great emphasis on the need for interdependence. African philosophers have pointed out that, from conception to birth, human beings are completely dependent on their mothers. After birth, you depend on your community and not just your parents for your upbringing. This illustrates interdependence on your journey to develop a personality. If this formula of interdependence proves successful, it can yield greater results if put to use more. Today, the value of interdependence is not achieving its potential outcomes as too many people are only looking out for number one at the expense of others. The tragic consequence of such selfishness is that many people are marginalised. They may turn to crime and become a threat to others. Many of the world’s ‘best’ developments were engineered during the ‘worst’ of moments by young people. You, as today’s youth, can do the same through ‘interdependence’.
