#16 Mogobe Ramose | The Philosophy of Ubuntu (English)

This edition is made by guest host and guest podcast maker: Liesbeth Tjon-a-Meeuw

Professor Mogobe Ramose (1950) from South Africa, is known for making us familiar with the philosophy of ubuntu in where we can experience our shared humanity. His original thought is explained in his book African Philosophy Through Ubuntu (1999) that he decided to write during his years of exile in Europe. In the Netherlands a Dutch translation of his work was published this century under the title Ubuntu, Stroom Van Het Bestaan Als Levensfilosofie (2017). Still today, Ramose elaborates passionately about the liberation of the African mind from Western dominance and the need for an African renaissance that also actively reflects on past mistakes. For instance, in his eyes Western democracy is a foreign system that doesn’t benefit the African people. He also mentions the predicament of the youth that can’t rely on their elders to come up with solutions. During one of his regular visits to Europe we took the chance to have a conversation with the philosopher himself and asked him what makes ubuntu relevant today? What does it take to bring out our humanity?

Host & podcastmaker: Liesbeth Tjon-A-Meeuw in conversation with Professor Mogobe Ramose | portret Elisabeth Aalbrink

 Music from Frits de Beer

 This is a production from the School of Silent Voices