“Watipa Leza”: A Critical Re-Engagement of Nsenga (African) Religious Values and Disability

abstract

There are many misconceptions about disability in most African contexts. Most of these misconceptions are due to diverse views on disability. Consequently, these misconceptions have been a basis for practices that encourage discrimination against people living with disabilities. The thrust of this article is that, by re-engaging the African values on the view of humans and community, negative views on disability could be deconstructed, thereby creating a non discriminatory, non-exclusive and interactive community.

KEYWORDS:

• disability
• discrimination
• misconception
• alienation
• inclusion
• re-engagement
• African values
• disability studies

Notes

¹ Chewa/Nyanja is a language commonly used in Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and some sections in Zimbabwe. It is a language made up of languages spoken in this region, including that of the Nsenga-speaking people.

² Ubunthu has much richer meaning than the English word. “It is a metaphor that describes the significance of group solidarity, on survival issues, that is so central to the survival of African communities” (Mbigi & Maree, 1995, p. 1).