Hello, my name is Noluthando Buthelezi from the Zulu community. This cultural heritage played a major role in the way I view things today. In this blog post, I will discuss two teachings/beliefs of my people that are part of me and have greatly influenced who I have become and how I view the world.

Since childhood, I have been taught the Zulu people's traditional culture because Zulu parents raised me. One particular lesson that still rings in my mind is the core teaching of "Ubuntu" which makes us human in other words. This concept teaches us to show love and care for our fellow human beings given that we are interconnected; hence cannot be considered as an individual without others around us. The essence of ‘ubuntu’, kindness and respect for others, further emphasizes the idea of building harmonious relationships within a society. Having been raised with Ubuntu as my guiding philosophy, it has profoundly impacted my perception of life and the world. Its provision for the importance of interpersonal relationships has taught me to appreciate the values of sympathy, comprehension, and society. This concept of Ubuntu has enabled me to understand that everyone’s deeds cascade to others and hence through my day-to-day interaction with being kind and sympathetic I promote a more united society.

Furthermore, the second teaching/belief that has shaped me is ancestral veneration. According to our traditions, it is believed that our forefathers still play vital roles in our lives by providing us with guidance and protecting us from the unseen world. Therefore, by performing daily practices, rituals, and ceremonies we maintain our connection to our ancestors and ensure that their legacy shall continue to live on and the importance of those who came before us, and their wisdom shall continue to influence our decisions. The respect for ancestors and belief in their spirit also define for me, the sense of community and continuity. It reminds us that we belong to a continuous generation line charged with the duty of receiving the past lessons and preparing a way for the future offspring. These insights have not just deepened my understanding of how life so often comes full circle but inspired me to make decisions about my life and relationships that outlast the immediate crisis by having a longer-term vision that is deeply embedded in the same values and lessons that have been handed down through generations. From this point of view, I have come to develop a deeper understanding of how past, present, and future are closely related.

In conclusion, I as look back at the teachings and beliefs of my Zulu community, I have come to appreciate how important our cultural practices are as they contain some very deep knowledge of life. Especially, the humanism of ubuntu together with worshiping ancestors form the core of my philosophy imparting such universal virtues as sympathy with others; understanding oneself as part of something bigger; limpidity toward what has already been done in history; no place among other things.

Kinship networks are the threads that bind us together as human beings, connecting us to others and helping us navigate the complexities of life. From my immediate family to my friends and fellow university students, my own kinship network has shaped my understanding of the world and my place in it. This blog post explores the various kinship relationships that I have, the ways in which I support them. It's an exploration of the bonds that keep us connected, even as we grow and evolve.

My family is at the heart of my kinship network. They love and care for me unconditionally, which motivates me to strive for success in life. Knowing that they believe in me and support my efforts fills me with gratitude, and I feel a deep sense of obligation to repay their love and support by making them proud. They have shown me what it means to be part of a family, to be part of something bigger than myself, and that has shaped the way I view kinship and the world. That sense of love and support that my family has given me is something I hope to share with other members of my kinship network- my friends, my fellow students, and anyone else who I consider to be part of my extended family. Like my immediate family, these people provide a sense of emotional connection, support, and encouragement that enriches my life in countless ways.

My close friends are a vital part of my kinship network, providing me with emotional, encouragement, and companionship. They celebrate my successes and provide a shoulder to lean on during challenging times. We share laugher, memories, and good times, and even provide tangible support like food and money when needed. My friends are my extended family, providing the same kind of love and support that I receive from my immediate family.

The kind of kinship I share with my friends is unique and different from the kinship I have with my family. While my family's support is unwavering and unconditional, my friends offer a different kind of support. They can provide an objective perspective, untainted by family biases or expectations. As I've grown older, my friendships have also evolved, maturing from childhood bonds of innocence to adult relationships built on mutual respect and understanding.

However, my kinship network extends beyond my immediate family and close friends to include the university students I interact with on a daily basis. My fellow students offer a unique form of kinship through peer support and mentorship. One of the most powerful aspects of my kinship network at university is our shared experiences of academic pressure. We all face challenges of exams, deadlines, and coursework, and this common ground creates a strong bond. Our shared experience of stress allows us to empathize with each other and offer support in times of need.

My kinship network is like a tapestry woven from many different threads, each one unique and beautiful in its own way. From the unconditional love of my family to the shared experiences and support of my friends and fellow students, these relationships have shaped who I am and how I see the world. As I continue to grow and evolve, I know that these kinship bonds will remain strong, guiding me and holding me up when I need them most.

NP Buthelezi, 50312243

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I use to assume that if a person is disable or if they come from a poor background , their opportunities of achieving their goals and dreams were low. I assumed that because, i saw that a lot of people who are disadvantaged cannot afford resources that might lead them to success and that since disable people cannot  do the things that a non-disable person can do, the are limited to achieving their goals.

This made me stereotype or stigmatize that since most people who are in that situation or group cannot do things or they are all unable too, until my neighbor who comes from a disadvantaged background changed my view and proved me wrong, by enrolling in university and graduating and receiving her masters degree in psychology and she is now a qualified and successful psychologist.

What i did not realize was that everyone has their own achievements no matter how small they might look from my view or perspective , they are huge to them and no matter how people do their things differently from me, i must not assume or create otherness.

In conclusion, i have learned that, it is important to not judge people from my own perspective especially if i have not experienced that  and i realized  how much my assumptions can make or break an individual or a group of people , which Chichamand Ngozi mentioned on the danger of the single story Ted talk that the single  story creates stereotypes and create incomplete stories about people, which i did by assuming that certain groups are limited because of what the have and do not have.