Values and Ethics in Africa

Values and ethics are closely related. Philosophy gives rise to values, values give rise to ethics. Philosophy is our broad view of the world. Values are the things we place importance on in life. Ethics are about what is right and wrong. This means that ethics are an extension of values, in turn values are an extension of philosophy. Africa has philosophy (Ubuntu), its values and its ethics, and these are not inferior.

Values

Upenyu – valuing life

Umhuri – familyhood, blood relations

Umuganda – service to others

Ururami, Ubulungiswa, Ubutabera – justice

Ukama, Harambee – familyhood, blood relations

Ujamaa – familyhood or communityhood

Ubunyarwanda – nationhood

Uhuru – liberty/independence/freedom

Umachobane – sustainability

Itorero – good members of society, and a strong sense of cultural values and leadership skills

Umoja – unity, peace and harmony

Kagisano – good neighbourliness

Musha – permanent home in ancestral lands

Simunye – strengths in numbers, we are one

Shosholoza – resilience

Kuumba – creativity

Ujima – collective responsibility

Utungamiri – leadership

Ushavi – workmanship, enterprising 

Urithi, Nhaka – inheritance

Uroho – spiritual connectedness

Unyanzvi – professionalism

Kuumba – mentoring

Sankofa – look back to inform the present and future

Ruremekedzo or Heshima – the ethic of respect

Ethics

•Upenyu – valuing life. The ethic is do not harm or kill 

•Umhuri – familyhood, valuing blood relations. The ethic is protect families and marriages

•Umuganda – service to others. The ethic is help others in need or reciprocity

•Ururami, Ubulungiswa, Ubutabera – justice. The ethic is for people to be just

•Ukama, Harambee – familyhood, valuing blood relations.

•Ujamaa – familyhood or communityhood. The ethic is promote cooperation and collectivism

•Ubunyarwanda – nationhood. There are many ethics including promotIng peace

•Uhuru – liberty/independence/freedom. The ethic is liberate and protect African liberation

•Umachobane – sustainability. The ethic is to do programs that are sustainable.

•Itorero – good members of society, and a strong sense of cultural values and leadership skills. The ethic is to respect our cultures

•Umoja – unity, peace and harmony. The ethic is to promote oneness.

•Kagisano – good neighbourliness. The ethic is to promote harmony

•Musha – permanent home in ancestral lands. The ethic is to protect and maintain permanent homes

•Simunye – strengths in numbers, we are one. The ethic is promote cooperation and collectivism

•Shosholoza – resilience. The ethic is remaining strong despite adversity

•Kuumba – creativity. The ethic is not to imitate

•Ujima – collective responsibility. The ethic is to look after one another

•Utungamiri – leadership. The ethic is people centered leadership

•Ushavi – workmanship, enterprising . The ethic is hardworking

•Urithi, Nhaka – inheritance. The ethic is to protect inheritance

•Uroho – spiritual connectedness. The ethic is to be holistic

•Unyanzvi – professionalism. The ethic is to act professionally

•Sankofa – look back to inform the future.

•Ruremekedzo or Heshima – the ethic of respect