Exploring African Relational Ethic of Ubuntu for Inclusion and Solidarity in the Humanitarian Field

Imafidon, Elvis

Exploring African Relational Ethic of Ubuntu for Inclusion and Solidarity in the Humanitarian Field

Imafidon, Elvis

Authors

DR Elvis Imafidon ei4@soas.ac.uk
Reader in African Philosophy

Abstract

This paper seeks to explore the nature and implication of African relational moral theory as captured in the Ubuntu concept for the humanitarian field, in general, and the humanitarian strand of the European Solidarity Corps (ESC), in particular. Ubuntu is an important concept to explore for two reasons: first, as an important theoretical ethical model, it has the potential of expanding the understanding of humanitarian aid and solidarity for volunteers in the ESC programme, particularly from African perspectives, which many youth volunteers will encounter; second, it provides volunteers with important approaches to embedding inclusivity in humanitarian aid programmes while protecting the value and importance of differences and diversity, for ubuntu is built on the recognition of differences and the need to include differences and diversity into a web or network of relationships for the wellbeing and survival of communities. Ubuntu, therefore, stresses a co-dependency ethos, which holds that being human is to be in a web of relationship with others, and to provide support for them and this is at the heart of humanitarian aid. The paper, therefore, seeks to strengthen the ethical base of the humanitarian field, in general, and youth volunteering in ESC, in particular, through Ubuntu and the embedded understanding of humanness, solidarity, relationality, reciprocity and cooperation.

Citation

Imafidon, E. Exploring African Relational Ethic of Ubuntu for Inclusion and Solidarity in the Humanitarian Field

Digital Artefact Type	Blog Post
Online Publication Date	Jan 26, 2022
Deposit Date	Apr 11, 2022
Publicly Available Date	Apr 11, 2022
Additional Information	Corporate Authors/Creators : SALTO European Solidarity Corps
External URL	https://www.salto-youth.net/rc/solidarity/solidarity-concepts/europetalks/

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Copyright Statement
This article is part of “Europe talks Solidarity” – a series of events and publications that offers a platform for the exploration of the concept of Solidarity, initiated by SALTO ESC. The discussion on Solidarity benefits from inputs from a wide range of experiences and backgrounds. However, the opinions and views expressed in the articles in this series do not necessarily reflect those of SALTO ESC. With this second round of articles, developed in 2021, SALTO ESC was looking for perspectives on Solidarity connected to the EU humanitarian aid field, as “Volunteering in humanitarian aid field” was integrated into the European Solidarity Corps programme in 2022. This publication was created with the support of the European Solidarity Corps programme of the European Commission. The support of the European Commission for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission, nor SALTO ESC can be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.