A research report submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of Witwatersrand, in fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (by coursework and research report), February 2010 / This research report answers the question, "would ubuntu obligate the people of Zimbabwe to agree to amnesty for Mr. Roberts Mugabe as a means to restore community harmony?" Seen as an ideal social ethic and foundation of African philosophy, ubuntu values community harmony and commands respect for dignity of humanity: [Abbreviated Abstract. Open document to view full version] / XL2018

The majority of educators/practitioners practicing in South Africa today were either educated under the apartheid regime or experienced a post apartheid education that was given by people socialized under the apartheid regime. Therefore, there is a strong possibility that democratic practice in schools is compromised due to the socialization of the practitioners. ECD practitioners’ perceptions on democracy and how they implement democratic practices in their workplace are explored in order to begin to identify the elements of a learning and working environment that could promote the values of a liberal democracy. A dialogic, participatory approach using questionnaires, focussed group discussions, personal interviews and critical incidents, investigated relevant issues such as perceptions of democracy, socialization, leadership, adult education and the impact of crime and HIV/Aids within the ECD context. The findings show that democracy is recognized as a positive and welcomed development in South Africa. There is a genuine ‘spirit of ubuntu’ present and the participants relish the diversity in their midst. A common feature between all groups is the concern over crime and corruption. However, it also revealed that although the surface levels of understanding of the principles of democracy are similar between various groups, the in-depth perceptions regularly differ. Improved avenues for legitimate communication between participants at all levels is advised, not only to discuss differences but also common ground. Understanding the factors that promote democratic principles such as cultural interaction, diversity, etc. could help both the participants of this study and other ECD practitioners in creating and promoting legitimate democratic practice in the workplace.

Indigenous knowledge systems are ―a body or bodies of knowledge‖ which Africans have survived on for a very long time (Mapara, 2010). This study intends to examine the various communicative and indigenous strategies that are employed by the Zimbabwean Ndebeles in issues of peace and conflict management. It is necessitated by the realisation that there is an increase in conflict in the region and country as a result of political and socio-economic challenges. The study adopts a bottom-up approach where conflict management becomes a process that starts from the grassroots going outward. This should also provide an opportunity to demonstrate that indigenous people are as sophisticated as every other society in dealing with their challenges (Warren, 1991). At the same time, it seeks to examine effectiveness of the indigenous and communicative conflict management strategies used by the Ndebele people. The study makes use of research questionnaires and interviews as well as descriptive and content analysis for data gathering and analysis respectively. The main theoretical concept guiding this study is ubuntu because it is considered best for Afrocentric approach to African studies. This is emphasised by Moyo and Lantern (2015:103) who state that ―... the philosophy of ubuntu should be the guiding philosophy in a Zimbabwe poisoned by ill-understood and often ill-digested ontological philosophies of individual rights that give rise to selfishness, violence, fragmentation and the sterile, barren philosophy of each man for himself‖ which continues to tear our society apart. The study focuses mainly on the Ndebele speaking communities in Silobela District of Zimbabwe. The study helps the nation in combating and addressing cases of conflict by ushering in the cultural dimension which is albeit not foreign in the worldview of the local people. This compliments all other efforts being made by the government to address socio-political challenges. By documenting (indigenous knowledge systems) that which has been otherwise ignored and side-lined for a long time, the study is part of an on-going process of mental decolonisation of the African people at the same time empowering them to face a globalising world with confidence and pride. / African Languages

Submitted by Silvana Teresinha Dornelles Studzinski (sstudzinski) on 2017-05-11T16:57:41Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Wagner dos Santos Chagas_.pdf: 1318759 bytes, checksum: 37ae4609268200801e5951a1e34c9cfe (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-11T16:57:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Wagner dos Santos Chagas_.pdf: 1318759 bytes, checksum: 37ae4609268200801e5951a1e34c9cfe (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-24 / CNPQ – Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / A presente tese de doutorado investigou os processos de aprendizagem nos espaços onde se manifestam a religiosidade umbandista. Objetiva analisar como acontecem os processos de aprendizagem na Umbanda. A pesquisa tem como fundamentação teórica a perspectiva Ubuntu e a Biologia do Amor de Humberto Maturana. Tem como orientação metodológica a abordagem de pesquisa qualitativa numa perspectiva de recortes de histórias de vida. A produção dos dados no campo empírico foi realizada por meio de entrevista semiestruturada, com inspiração no método clínico piagetiano, e por diário de campo. A pesquisa contou com dez participantes de quatro espaços umbandistas localizados em quatro municípios da região metropolitana de Porto Alegre/RS. A pesquisa indica que nos espaços umbandistas as práticas religiosas não se separam das experiências de aprendizagem.Tanto os sujeitos umbandistas, os espaços onde ocorrem suas práticas religiosas e a própria Umbanda estão entrelaçadas em um processo de desenvolvimento mútuo. Essas experiências de aprendizagem acontecem por meio da significação e ressignificação das práticas cotidianas que estão encharcadas pelos saberes tradicionais da Umbanda. Aprender na Umbanda é um processo de viver e conhecer em comunidade, onde os saberes tradicionais estão entrelaçados com as configurações do emocionar presente nos espaços umbandistas. Nesses espaços, existem muitas formas de aprender, representando uma grande diversidade epistemológica. / The present doctoral thesis investigated the learning processes in the spaces where Umbandist religiosity is manifested. It aims to analyze how the learning processes in Umbanda happens. The research has as theoretical foundation the Ubuntu perspective and the Biology of Love by Humberto Maturana. It has as methodological orientation the qualitative research approach in a perspective of life story clippings. Data production in the empirical field was performed through a semistructured interview, inspired by the Piagetian clinical method, and by field diary. The survey counted on ten participants of four umbandista spaces located in four cities of the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre / RS. The research indicates that in Umbanda spaces religious practices do not separate from learning experiences. Both Umbanda subjects, the spaces where their religious practices occur and Umbanda itself are intertwined in a process of mutual development. These learning experiences take place through the signification and resignification of the daily practices that are flooded by the traditional knowledge of Umbanda. Learning in Umbanda is a process of living and knowing in community, where traditional knowledge is intertwined with the settings of the present emotion in Umbanda spaces. In these spaces, there are many ways of learning, representing a great epistemological diversity.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / This study entails an historical investigation of how the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) has addressed the ecumenical tension between ecclesiology and ethics in its history between 1963 and 2013. The study is arguably the first comprehensive analysis of the history of the AACC focussing on ecclesiology and ethics and will therefore make an original contribution to ecumenical theology in Africa in this regard. The study argues that the tension between what the church is (read: ecclesiology) and what it does (read: ethics) has undeniably been present in the ecumenical movement in Africa. The study is situated within two concentric contexts. Firstly, it is located within the context of the WCC study project on ecclesiology and ethics that was conducted during the period 1992 to 1996 and will contribute to wider discourse in this regard. The WCC project was an attempt to bridge a deep divide in the ecumenical movement between those who emphasise that the way to unity is through doctrinal agreement and those who believe that "doctrine divides" while a common moral cause (service) may unite. Secondly, this study is aimed at discerning how the AACC has addressed the relationship between the theological quest for unity (read: ecclesiology) and the social responsibility of the church (read: ethics). The study examines how the AACC assisted its member churches to respond to contemporary challenges in three distinct periods in recent African history, namely the periods of decolonisation (1963-1974), development (1975-1992) and neo-liberal globalisation (1993-2013). The hypothesis of this study is that these periods correlate with the AACC's ways of negotiating the tension between ecclesiology and ethics. The study argues that although the AACC has privileged the social agenda of the church in society (read: ethics), the ecumenical quest for ecclesial unity (read: ecclesiology) has not been completely absent. While the study acknowledges that the tension between ecclesiology and ethics is not easily resolved, it affirms that these two ecumenical concerns are inseparable. The study therefore suggests an appropriation of the African notion of ubuntu as a horizon for ecclesiology and ethics. The intuition behind the proposal is that ubuntu resonates with biblical notions of koinonia and diakonia and is thus an apt notion for an articulation of the interconnectedness between ecclesiology and ethics. The study is divided into two parts, comprising eight chapters. The first part covers four chapters in which I offer an historical background to the modern ecumenical movement, an analysis of the ecclesiology and ethics debate in the wider ecumenical context and a brief institutional history of the AACC. The second part of the study comprises three chapters. Therein, I present a critical analysis of the AACC's handling of the tension between ecclesiology and ethics in the period 1963-2013. Each chapter describes and analyses the various ways in which the AACC addressed the tension between the theological quest for the visible unity of the church on the one hand (read: ecclesiology) and the social responsibility of the church (read: ethics) on the other in specific socio-historical contexts. The hypothesis of the study is confirmed on the basis of such analysis. This study contributes to discourse in African theology on authenticity (read: ecclesiology) as expressed in theologies of inculturation and indigenisation and on social relevance (read: ethics) as expressed in theologies of liberation and reconstruction. It further contributes to academic reflection on the history of the ecumenical movement in Africa and the quest for an appropriate ecumenical vision on the African continent amidst the tensions between mainline churches, independent churches (AICs) and a variety of Pentecostal churches and the many social challenges that churches have to address.

<p>The<strong> </strong><em>Aim</em><strong> </strong>of this study is to interpret and analyse what is considered to be professional responsibility within substance abuse treatment in the unique perspective of Ubuntu philosophy. The <em>Method</em><strong> </strong>is of hermeneutic tradition, which is based upon qualitative research with five interviews. <em>Result:</em><strong> </strong>Ubuntu philosophy can be seen as a perspective when interacting with clients, professionals and surrounding community. Ethical responsibility is by the professionals considered as a positive attitude, different approaches and respect for the profession, co-workers and clients. The <em>Discussion</em><strong> </strong>enlightens the importance of education, ethical responsibilities and how the Ubuntu philosophy creates a holistic perspective in treatment. <em>Conclusion:</em><strong> </strong>There will always be differences when working with people but the differences should not be considered as dilemmas more as challenges.</p>

The Aim of this study is to interpret and analyse what is considered to be professional responsibility within substance abuse treatment in the unique perspective of Ubuntu philosophy. The Method is of hermeneutic tradition, which is based upon qualitative research with five interviews. Result: Ubuntu philosophy can be seen as a perspective when interacting with clients, professionals and surrounding community. Ethical responsibility is by the professionals considered as a positive attitude, different approaches and respect for the profession, co-workers and clients. The Discussion enlightens the importance of education, ethical responsibilities and how the Ubuntu philosophy creates a holistic perspective in treatment. Conclusion: There will always be differences when working with people but the differences should not be considered as dilemmas more as challenges.

Ce mémoire présente les résultats et l'analyse d'une recherche effectuée dans la communauté Ubuntu, menée entre octobre 2005 et août 2006, dans le domaine de la gestion des connaissances, visant à comprendre comment se crée la connaissance dans la communauté, dans un contexte d'écosystème en mutation. Il ressort de cette recherche que la grande diversité des contributeurs est maintenue sous une forme communautaire par le lien des valeurs qu'ils partagent (humanisme, bidouille, liberté, partage, autodérision, démocratisation) engendrant une vision de l'informatique. Le fonctionnement interne s'effectue sur un mode mérito-démocratique, où tous ont droit à la parole, mais où ce sont les experts et les membres les plus engagés qui ont le plus grand rôle décisionnel. La communauté est composée de nombreuses équipes autogérées, disposant d'une grande autonomie et travaillant en interaction avec d'autres équipes de la communauté Ubuntu ou d'autres communautés du logiciel libre. Cela mène à des cycles et des métacycles de création de connaissances, permettant de choisir une trajectoire technologique puis de s'en écarter par la suite. Tout ceci permet de créer un modèle de création de connaissance, basé sur les modèles de Nonaka et Takeuchi (1995) et Nonaka et Toyama (2005). Nous avons aussi été amenés à valider les activateurs de connaissances de Nonaka (intention, variété, chaos créatif, redondance, autonomie), et à déterminer d'autres activateurs de création de connaissances propres au logiciel libre : liberté de parole, troll, outils d'extériorisation (type wiki, bugzilla, etc.), diversité des moyens de communication et des contributeurs et action même de coder. ______________________________________________________________________________ MOTS-CLÉS DE L’AUTEUR : Gestion des connaissances, Création de connaissance, Ba, Activateurs de connaissance, Innovation, Logiciel libre, Logiciel à code source ouvert, Communauté, Communauté de pratique, Ubuntu.

<p>This thesis presents the different ways that have been achieved to improve and widen the interaction possibilities between LiveLab users. LiveLab is a virtual laboratory used at IDA (Institutionen för datavetenskap / The Department of Computer and Information Sciences) at Linköpings Universitet. This virtual laboratory is a virtual machine running an Kubuntu Linux 1 distribution thanks to VMware ² Player. It was created at the HCS (Human-Centered Systems) division of IDA. Aiming to be used in more and more courses, LiveLab may present a lack of certain functionalities. Thus thesis tries to shows how the development of applications may fulfil this lack.</p>

While the debate on the indigenous culture of ubuntu/botho in South Africa (SA) goes far back into the history as signified by Ngubane' s (1963 and 1979) works on the role of the ubuntu values in the anti-colonial and anti-apartheid struggle; in the last two decades or so, this debate has gathered even much greater momentum. This recent interest in ubuntu/botho culture could be attributed to the imminence of the collapse of apartheid in the late 1980s and the turn of the 1990s, and also the post-apartheid situation in which the SA society came to confront serious socio-economic and political challenges. Those challenges arose from the country's re-admission into the global world, which presented challenges associated with globalisation phenomenon such as the need to achieve economic competitiveness. They also were presented by the newly attained democratic dispensation along which dawned the urgent need to redress the apartheid-created injustices and to work earnestly towards the eradication of the past legacies such as racial inequalities and poverty while seeking to consolidate and jealously defend the still rather fragile democracy. Event much more recently, the debate came to form part of the current continent-wide sentiment that Africa should claim the twenty-first century and that all efforts should be channelled towards the renewal of Africa following the destructions and distortions caused by colonialism. Central to this debate in SA is the widely held belief and claim that the ubuntu/botho cultural values could be mobilised into developmental and transformative force. In particular, a strong claim is made that for SA to achieve competitive advantage in global markets, its development strategies should tap into the values of the ubuntu/botho culture. While few cases are cited as success stories indicative of ubuntu values positive influence on business management strategies in the workplace, often with the assistance of private consultants, these remain isolated and no any serious follow-up studies were conduced in order to assess the sustainability of such interventions. Thus, what is essentially missing in this debate, is a comprehensive indepth, empirically-based study aimed at not only assessing the validity of these widely held claims, but also at examining the objective conditions under which the ubuntu/botho cultural values can help in realising this role. Also critical and missing is the need to possibilities/opportunities and potential constraints to ubuntu/botho culture's ability to fulfil this role. Often these debates lack any serious theoretical basis or comparative references on which to justify their claims. Further, there is seldom any attempt to locate the debate on ubuntu/botho culture in the wider context of the debate and research in the African continent around questions of traditional cultures, thought systems and development and progress. While the present study approaches this debate in such a way that the gaps highlighted addressed through extensive review of literature, it however takes it even further by giving it an empirical content through an in-depth case study of one South African workplace as an illustrative example. This empirically-based approach, coupled with extensive and critical review of the relevant literature, helped to take the debate on ubuntu/botho culture beyond rhetoric which characterises the current dominant thinking within the debate. I argue, on the basis of my overall findings that while evidence gathered supports the case for the need to explore with the ubuntu/botho culture in the economic and business sphere, and in particular at the workplace level, some serious obstacles would and do stand in the way of realising the potentially transformative and developmental role of the culture's values. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2007.