Ubuntu: The Raw Truth Unravelled by Mthulisi Ndlovu Book Review

Mthulisi Ndlovu

Ubuntu: The Raw Truth Unravelled is a touching poem which seeks to highlight the need for unity and respect between all people. The author, Mthulisi Ndlovu speaks on the beauty of unity, Ubuntu among all people. Ndlovu’s poem is arranged in short stanzas, each of them exploring different aspects of the human society and how people relate to one another or should relate to one another.

He starts off exploring the period before Ubuntu has been achieved, speaking on the society and how people relate to each other and how humanity reacts to different qualities in the society. He transitions to explaining what it is people want and long for, and takes a deep dive into a society where there is unity and love between all people, and all hatred, segregation and other qualities existing in a fragmented society are denounced.

The poem transitions to an inspiring tone thereafter, where it seeks to show the beauty and power in Ubuntu, and what can be achieved by a united society, also highlighting the not-so-noble aspects of a society with no unity and the negative impact such characteristics have on people. The tone then changes into a darker, more serious one as Ndlovu explores a society at war with itself, where there is no Ubuntu, no unity. He speaks of a broken society, rife with violence, pain and discord.

He zeroes back in on the society as it stands, showing the rot that plagues it and the problematic way in which humanity currently relates to one another. He highlights the pride, the anger and disunity that is in our society, urging us all to shun hate and embrace our humanity.

From the very beginning of this poem to the very end, unity and Ubuntu was being promoted, and hatred, disunity, and all other bad characteristics prevalent in our current society were very clearly denounced. The author sought to “champion good norms and values under the sun” and after reading his poem, I strongly believe he achieved his goal.

Not only did Ndlovu’s work promote noble qualities, it made me as a reader evaluate myself and ask myself important questions about how exactly I am contributing to a better society and why exactly I am not doing better. I applaud Ndlovu’s ingenious use of rhetorical questions to promote a thorough self-evaluation by his readers.
Ndlovu’s use of imagery further helped his cause, his words painted an image in my mind that is difficult to forget, the type of image to stay with me for a long time to come. A good poem must have an impact, and this giant poem, had a giant impact. I hope more people read this exceptional piece of work by Mthulisi Ndlovu, because I whole heartedly believe that the society as it stands, could benefit from such an emotive and inspiring piece.
Before I close off, allow me to leave you with a stanza from the poem which especially spoke to me:

Our aspirations inspire our souls
Our actions cement courage
Our energy motivates the vibe
With which we grind
As the inner ‘us’ remain intact
With confidence and surety
We shall be fine

Mthulisi Ndlovu: Ubuntu: The Raw Truth Unravelled

Earlier today I had a conversation with @_KingKG95 a world record setter with his poem Ubuntu (The raw truth unraveled) which is 51 pages long @HStvZim https://t.co/nYo2O3JFzu

— KhumbuLani BanduLa Muleya (@raskhumbu) July 1, 2021