Research
Interdependence of Ubuntu and Hospitality and the Link to Theological Perspective: A Biblical Reflection
The interdependence of Ubuntu and hospitality is drawn primarily from the investigation of theology and African cultural practices to address current Christian ethical practices of hospitality in the context of migration and the problems it poses to the practice of hospitality, and how it can be reconceived in the light of this context. This article argues that Christians have an identity defined by a new union in Christ, which has resultant ethics that flow from this relationship and ‘theological life be considered as a pilgrimage of pressing to higher ideals in Christ’ (Philippians 3:13). However, ethical expectations and conduct for people bound by Christ’s fellowship have explicit ethical obligations to one another and a duty to fellow human beings, as people are created in the image of God (imago Dei). This suggests that our human actions as Christians should have an intentional goal of co-existence with other human beings as we are bound in contextual realities with other people. In this regard, Ubuntu means interdependence, communality, commonality and mutuality. The church and the individual Christian have a duty to be engaged according to Ubuntu’s notion of identity and solidarity. Identity and solidarity imply a vector towards the other. This could be used to exhort South Africans to desist from acts of xenophobia as this is contrary to the ethos of Ubuntu that teaches the dignity of all people, as our well-being is intertwined and communally shared.
Public Practical Theology and Public Pastoral Care Intersection with Christian Ethics within the Context of Ubuntu and Hospitality to Migrants
This article talks about the currently unexplored works of the beloved Azerbaijani composer Tofik Kuliyev, written by him for a symphony orchestra, as well as his works called "Choreographic novels". The article reveals the richness and diversity, types and forms of melodic development in terms of genre classification. Such factors of the musical language as melody, harmony, national musical basis, types and forms of melodic development (repetition, sequence, variance, rolling, singing ) have been studied. All this actualizes the study of the creative heritage of Tofig Kuliyev.
The Interplay of Ubuntu and Hospitality as Defining Tenets in African and South African Ethics: A Christian Ethics Reflection
The notion of Ubuntu as a moral theory in the South African and African contexts, presents attractive norms of an African world view that can be articulated and applied to contemporary Christian ethics. The proponents of Ubuntu perceive it as an African philosophy based on the maxim, ‘a person is a person through other persons’, whereby the community prevails over individual considerations. It is not merely an empirical claim that our survival or well-being is causally dependent on others but is in essence capturing a normative account of what we ought to most value in life. The shortcomings of Ubuntu should not preclude from reflecting on Ubuntu as a natural ethic potential that enforces and engenders hospitality, neighbourliness and care for all humanity. In this instance, Ubuntu should shift to liminal Ubuntu with Christ as a bond as Ubuntu seeks to restore African communal cultural behaviours. Hospitality should be practiced by doing or reflecting on things which might look insignificant such as, supporting the vulnerable, the marginalized and the migrants that come to South Africa from the neighbouring African countries that bear the brunt of xenophobic acts. This article seeks to appeal to the predominant influence of Ubuntu and Judeo-Christian ethos embedded in the South African psyche to the challenge posed by xenophobia. The article further argues for human dignity as understood by identifying and exhibiting solidarity with others.
