Mobilizing Ubuntu as the unifying language for the descendants of Bantu during xenophobic/afrophobic attacks in South Africa.

Abstract

South Africa has witnessed a lot of xenophobic uprisings in recent years, and it comes with violent attacks mainly by the black African hosts on the black African migrants, who are mostly Bantu-speaking descendants, just like some of the black ethnic groups in South Africa. This has prompted some scholars to call it Afrophobia because they see it as a fratricidal brawl since the attacks are hardly extended to non-black Africans. This paper, therefore, explored the re-vitalisation of the traditional ways black Africans used to relate with one another in their communities, employing the philosophy of Ubuntu. Using a desktop study secondary data collection approach as its methodology, the study draws from existing literature, academic journals, reports, relevant media sources, books and electronic databases, and employs the narrative analysis to contextualise the phenomenon. The study concluded that the mobilisation and positioning of Ubuntu as the theme in the communication and languages used by the media, scholars, political and cultural leaders while addressing the causative factors responsible for these attacks will go a long way towards highlighting their historical affinity and create a conversation about it, and thus, the violence will abate. The study also showed that, many times, the causative factors are built on misconceptions and myths. The study recommended that, if these steps are taken, the descendants of Bantu will not only live peaceably but also enjoy the good of the land.