Leading with Ubuntu

For Umoja Faculty Leaders,

The concept of Ubuntu, "I am, because we are," is not new. Ubuntu is an ancient Zulu philosophy and way of being that emphasizes collective action. It shaped post-apartheid reconciliation efforts in South Africa. As an academic support strategy, it also has meaningful implications for Black students' success.

An Ubuntu leadership style is applicable inside the Umoja community. Coordinators, counselors, instructors, and administrators must work together to increase academic achievement and foster self-efficacy among students. Campus leaders must move away from individualistic educational values and embrace collective teaching, learning, and administrative practices.

An "I can do it all by myself" attitude predestines our students' failures. While self-regulated learning is fundamental to furthering knowledge outside class meetings, it does not always align with the Umoja Community Education Foundation's mission to serve as a critical resource for African American and other students. Umoja builds strength through unity.

Before my role as Umoja's Scholar in Residence, I learned about the importance of Ubuntu leadership the hard way. In 2013, I started a limited liability company to teach the self-defense, dance movements, musical elements, and communal philosophies of capoeira, the African Brazilian martial art. While I partnered with an elementary school to provide space in exchange for teaching their students, the business ultimately collapsed.

Two significant challenges prevented me from transforming my side hustle into a sustainable source of income. First, I attempted to handle every component of the marketing, service, and product departments without significant assistance from students, teachers, and other community partners. Second, my business plan lacked the clarity and depth to attract paying customers outside of the school.

While I found ways to measure success by sharing an art form created by enslaved Africans, serving as a mentor and jegna to students, and writing a book about the work, I failed to generate sustainable income. Without profitable products and services, I had to pivot. I moved abroad and attempted additional ventures in Mexico and Antigua and Barbuda, but they yielded similar results.

Those leadership experiences schooled me in the importance of Ubuntu. Collaboration and consistency are crucial components of meaningful achievement.

Ubuntu begins with members of the campus leadership team and spreads throughout the ranks. Department chairs, presidents, directors, lead counselors, and coordinators must collaborate to create measurable markers of success. They must lead by example and inspire others to see themselves as leaders on campus to increase retention, foster academic achievement, and encourage feelings of belonging among students. It takes a cohesive team to provide holistic support for Black students.

When you arrive at the office tomorrow, remember Ubuntu. Prompt your favorite AI tool for a definition applicable to your tasks, read an article that explains how Ubuntu shaped Nelson Mandela's political endeavors, or embrace the following Umoja Perspective.

Ubuntu produces collective strategies aligned with helping Black students achieve.

Enroll in Umoja's Global Institute to explore African-centered education and expand your understanding of Umoja's educational philosophies. Attend the UGI webinar to take the next step.

Follow and connect with us via LinkedIn and Instagram. The Foundation is launching the Umoja Global Institute, a professional learning resource designed to enhance teaching and learning across our network.

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