We are human through the humanity of others: lessons for conservation from an African philosophy
Ubuntu is a guiding philosophy deeply rooted in African perspective, emphasizing interconnectedness, compassion, humanity, dignity, and communal well-being. In this Reader, Jackie Asiimwe - a Ugandan human rights lawyer, philanthropy advisor and CEO at CivSource Africa - speaks to Maliasili’s Portfolio Funding Director, Resson Kantai Duff, and emphasizes how embracing Ubuntu positively can influence our relationship with nature and each other, including how we lead and collaborate. This conversation is by no means exhaustive of Ubuntu's complex and multi-layered nature; it highlights key ideas from Jackie’s perspective on how conservation and environmental organizations can benefit from this philosophy.
In conversation...
Five insights from Ubuntu
1. Everything and everyone is connected. Ubuntu is about being, belonging and becoming →
How would you describe Ubuntu to those who are unfamiliar, or might be unclear what the philosophy is about?
I vividly recall last year when I had the opportunity to listen to a Masai elder explaining a concept that deeply resonated with me about this. He described it as a spirit composed of three interconnected strands: being, belonging, and becoming.
For me, "being" encompasses more than just my individual identity as Jackie; it represents the culmination of all those who came before me. I find solace in exploring my lineage, a common practice in Africa, particularly in Uganda. It’s a constant reminder of our roots and the legacy that precedes us.
On the other hand, "becoming" speaks of our responsibilities to the future. While we stand in the present, we must also consider the generations yet to come. This notion emphasizes the importance of caring for our environment and preserving what we have inherited, whether addressing climate change or engaging in conservation efforts.
The sense of "belonging" is akin to a forest. No single tree can create a forest; it is the collective existence of trees intertwined through their root systems, supporting, sheltering, and nurturing each other. Similarly, we are all interconnected, and our communities form the fabric of Ubuntu which embraces the recognition of our ancestry, the responsibilities of the present, and the care for the future in a circular and harmonious way of living.
2. Living in community isn’t just about people; it is also about wildlife and nature →
Ubuntu might often be seen as only a human-to-human philosophy - but how would you describe it in relation to our environment and nature?
Ubuntu is not just about community for humans; it extends to our environment, including all the living things around us. The African way of living in community, sharing resources, and helping one another extends even to the wildlife and ecosystems on the continent. It's about recognizing that our actions impact the environment and all living beings around us. So essentially, Ubuntu does not just focus on our interactions as humans - but what effect our actions have on the living things around us, the ecosystems we live in, and the resources we depend on to survive.
And this is how many of us on the continent live. For example, in pastoral communities, because the cattle are able to move, then the wildlife is able to move as well; this means we have these wide open spaces that have allowed our ecosystems to remain intact. I would say it’s one of the reasons why we still have wildlife on the continent today.
3. As leaders, to lead with dignity and humility is our calling and responsibility →
How does Ubuntu inform conservation and environmental leadership? How can we relate it to how we lead our organizations?
Ubuntu calls for authentic leadership that enables us to ‘see’ and respect the humanity in others. Ubuntu puts dignity at the heart of leadership: it is the human in me that recognizes the human in you. And as leaders, we should ensure we ‘see’ our teams. Seeing means recognizing their whole selves, which includes their families, background, daily life, and more.
How often do we ask our teams how they’re doing? How their families are doing? You cannot lead people you do not see - you must make people important enough to be worthy of your attention. Though there are many ways in which the global and wider systems in which we work do not ‘see us’, especially as local African leaders, we must work hard to change this within our own organizations and in the wider system. This approach nurtures a work environment where individuals feel valued and understood.
This is at the core of how to do power and leadership with dignity.
4. In philanthropy, Ubuntu should inspire us to shift focus from money to people →
Many funders or philanthropists decide to fund specific organizations that fit a certain mold. To be an entity of value, many local organizations feel the need to contort themselves to fit this ideal and often do not feel ‘seen’. But you’ve done this differently. How have you brought Ubuntu to life by doing philanthropic work differently, and funding organizations that ordinarily wouldn’t receive support?
Funding and philanthropy should focus on enabling communities and organizations to thrive on their own terms, rather than imposing roadblocks.
Ubuntu reminds us to prioritize people over money, which is a problem in the nonprofit world. Having experienced the pain and process of getting development aid, we decided that part of our responsibility of being in power at CivSource Africa is to say that 'this stops with me.' We always think about how we're exercising our power with those we provide grants. We also don't try to 'NGO-ise' every organization - we want to meet them where they're at and understand where they want to go. We also really think about building trust both ways, zeroing in on the risks identified while funding certain organizations, especially those considered 'young.' This includes everything from funding entities not organized into your typical NGO set-up, and soliciting video rather than written proposals where groups prefer oral communication.
Funding and philanthropy should focus on enabling communities and organizations to thrive rather than imposing unnecessary constraints and roadblocks. I advocate for a shift in perspective; money should be something or a way to facilitate community and important work to happen, but it shouldn't be the main thing. Philanthropy can be a powerful force for positive change when it aligns with the principles of Ubuntu. It involves giving with dignity, respecting local organizations' autonomy, and facilitating community-driven solutions.
5. We must re-examine our existing power structures and systems →
Ubuntu reminds me of the interconnectedness we share in community, where each person contributes to a collective song, and no one is alone in their journey.
Power - imbalances and otherwise - is a huge topic that Maliasili is interested in and will be focusing on in an upcoming Forum in September. Ubuntu, which emphasizes collective power and power within ourselves, contrasts with the hierarchical, oppressive power often seen in the world. How do you reconcile these two different types of power, given your experience in both worlds?
Power shouldn’t be practiced in only one way - Ubuntu can help us think how to co-create better power structures that benefit our communities and organizations.
I must emphasize that I don't intend to romanticize community or demonize what is perceived as ‘western power.’ Both have their strengths and dangers. Because even as we talk about community, we know that sometimes not everyone is at the table, and we must continuously watch who is not at the table. And part of who is not at the table is sometimes the function of what colonialism did, such as suppressing the voices of elderly women and marginalizing some other members. It’s important to watch out for the ways in which sometimes community can also be a power ‘against.’
My focus on Ubuntu is not to assert one form of power over the other but to reclaim the ways we once lived before colonization imposed an alien system on us - which then became the ‘only way’, with little regard for the power systems before - leaving our countries and communities struggling to adapt.
In my work within the aid and development space, I witnessed how power dynamics influenced interactions between local organizations and international ones. Vulnerability, uncertainty, and being dictated to were prevalent in the relationships. Many individuals sought to be on the side of power, mimicking what they had seen before. I often saw people driving up to villages in big cars to assert power in the negative ways it had been used over them. However, I realized this wasn't how I was brought up, prompting me to search for alternative approaches combining the best of both worlds to co-create something truly better. Therefore, the aim is not to idealize or vilify any approach but to discover better ways and incorporate Africa's unique perspective on power into our lives, whether in leadership, conservation, or philanthropy.
How can you practice Ubuntu in day-to-day life?
Jackie shares three top tips for how we can all practice Ubuntu daily.
Be humble: Acknowledge that you’re not self-made, and practice humility. Ubuntu teaches humility by acknowledging that we, as leaders and individuals are a product of history and the contributions of those who came before us. It could be the people who opened doors for you, environmental heroes such as the Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai, or the village that raised money for you to attend school… This keeps us humble and reminds us that we are also responsible for paving the way for others.
Be grateful: Recognize the people who have and continue to support you. Express gratitude and appreciate the efforts of your teams, partners, and the wider community. And in the philanthropy space, appreciation and gratitude should go both ways between local organizations and funders - this is key to building and sustaining positive relationships.
Be a steward: Today's leaders must be stewards for the future. This involves thinking beyond the present and ensuring that actions today contribute positively to the well-being of future generations. This includes how you steward those in your organization, and how to enable them to become stronger and better individuals.