From a South African Friend: Nhlanhla on Ubuntu

Ubuntu is the spirit of belonging, of fullness and being in community. Whether I know you or not, once I get to know your name and where you come from you become part of me and I adopt you into my family and in my being. The practicalities of ubuntu far outstrips just belonging, it is to be lived. It is said in Zulu “akasenabo ubuntu”, (he or she has lost a sense of humanity or being). It is also a complete set of ethical behaviour which is not individual and has many theories supported by different idioms that enrich how it is to be practised. It is also very complex because there are principles that guide this concept to be truly meaningful. For example elements of reparation are necessary if wrong has been done if one is to be accepted fully into the fold again.