Inhloso kanye bizo: Exploring South African university students’ conceptions and enactment of purpose

Abstract

This article reports a qualitative study that explored South African conceptions and enactment of life purpose. Data collected using semi-structured interviews with 25 first-year university students (female = 56%, age range = 18–25) offer a unique insight into African young adults’ conceptions of life purpose. From a phenomenological analysis emerged interconnected themes that show these participants’ thoughts about purpose reflect an African worldview: a purposeful life involves ethical living in the present that contributes to one’s family’s and community’s collective future not just one’s own individualistic needs; and purpose is a spiritual endeavor connecting a person to God that lives with and among people. Although these college students gave conceptions of purpose, most had not manifested those purposes into action. Educational implications focus on how universities may have an opportunity to help students find venues to engage their purposes.

Keywords:

• Moral values
• purpose
• qualitative research
• South Africa

Acknowledgements

The author would like to offer a special word of gratitude to Ms Ella Belcher ([email protected]) for assisting with the language editing of this manuscript. Also, a word of appreciation to the peer reviewers for helpful comments in finalizing this article.