>
>However, the desire to agree, which—within the context of
>Ubuntu—is supposed to safeguard the rights and opinions of
>individuals and minorities, is often exploited to enforce
>group solidarity. Because of its extreme emphasis on
>community, Ubuntu democracy might be abused to legitimize
>what Sono calls the "constrictive nature" or "tyrannical
>custom" of a derailed African culture, especially its
>"totalitarian communalism" which "...frowns upon elevating
>one beyond the community" (1994:xiii, xv). The role of the
>group in African consciousness, says Sono, could be
>
>...overwhelming, totalistic, even totalitarian. Group
>psychology, though parochially and narrowly based...,
>nonetheless pretends universality. This mentality, this
>psychology is stronger on belief than on reason; on sameness
>than on difference. Discursive rationality is overwhelmed by
>emotional identity, by the obsession to identify with and by
>the longing to conform to. To agree is more important than
>to disagree; conformity is cherished more than innovation.
>Tradition is venerated, continuity revered, change feared
>and difference shunned. Heresies >creations of intellectual African individuals, or refusal to
>participate in communalism] are not tolerated in such
>communities (199 ; cf. also Louw, 1995).
>
>In short, although it articulates such important values as
>respect, human dignity and compassion, the Ubuntu desire for
>consensus also has a potential dark side in terms of which
>it demands an oppressive conformity and loyalty to the
>group. Failure to conform will be met by harsh punitive
>measures (cf. Mbigi & Maree, 1995:58; Sono, 1994:11, 17; Van
>Niekerk, 1994:4). Such a derailment of Ubuntu is, of course,
>quite unnecessary. The process of nation-building in
>post-apartheid South Africa does not, for example, require
>universal sameness or oppressive communalism. What it does
>require, is true Ubuntu. It requires an authentic respect
>for human/individual rights and related values, and an
>honest appreciation of differences (Sindane, 199 ;
>Degenaar, 1996:23).

I can definitely see all of this. It definitely has it's manifestations amongst the african cultural community here in the states as well.

Truth 2 U

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If you release what is within u, what u release will save you. If you do not release what is within u, what u do not release will destroy u.

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