What is it to be human? Ubuntu, an African perspective on humanity

“What is it to be human?” is one of the existential questions that have been asked throughout the centuries. Different cultures and religions during different époques have found many unique answers to this question.

In our own time human rights have become the predominant way of answering the question. In the West human rights are seen as the universall standard and answer to what it is to be a human being. At the same time eastern thinkers and cultures claim that human rights are merely a tool of power the West attempts to impose on the East.

Saturday 5th April Aman Kamsare will introduce us to the philosophy of Ubuntu through his peotry. Ubuntu is an African way of thinking and living. It means “humaness” and we can find elements of Ubuntu throughout the African continent.

Kamsare will ask:

• Is it possible to build a political system on Ubuntu that will solve the problems modern liberal democracies are facing?

• Can Ubuntu be the universal answer to the question what it is to be a human being?

About Aman Kamsare

After a prolonged imprisonment of 12 years without any sentence or trial Aman Kedir Kamsare was forced to leave his home country Ethopia due to persecution of his people, the Oromo people. He was adopted as a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International and is now a member of the executive committee of Amnesty International - Norway and human rights activist based in Tromsø.

He has lived in Norway for 14 years where he acquired a master’s degree in science of literature at Tromsø University. Kamare’s works are available at Tromsø library. Currently he has been composing poems about the African traditional philosophy of Ubuntu. But he has a strong interest in poetry that is concerned with nature, love and boundaries.

Date: Saturday 5th April

Time: 11:15 – 13:00

Venue: Skarven bar

The event is free and open to the public. Everyone welcome!
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