Ubuntu in the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) and the african society

This paper explored the concept “Ubuntu” in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). Relevant literatures on Ubuntu as well as the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) were reviewed. The extant literatures show that Ubuntu, which is used to represent brotherhood as it concerns the African society, suggests the oneness that African nations have always had with one another. However, the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and the way technological gadgets are being embraced across the globe suggests that Africans are already losing the unity which they took time and effort to build. This spans from families, communities, nations and the continent at large. In this regard, technological gadgets, which are supposed to be enabling devices for enhancing human endeavours towards higher productivity, tend to serve as a double edged sword; serving enabling devices on one end, and aiding the weakening of social ties and roots, on the other end. This study recommends that Africans hold on to the spirit of Ubuntu and allow technological gadgets serve as devices that unify people. Hence, there will be a need to remove technological gadgets where possible and necessary in order for people to interact with one another face-to-face first, before involving those who are far away through the use of technological gadgets.