Hello, and welcome. This is an ongoing project documenting the lives of people from all walks of life across South Africa, and the spirit of Ubuntu in their communities.

Ubuntu is the idea that a person’s humanity is intertwined with the humanity of others – That our individual well-being is deeply connected to how we treat one another and how we live together in a community. Ubuntu is about recognizing our shared humanity; we are all vulnerable and we all matter.

This project, and eventual book, will be an ongoing journey through South Africa — not its landscapes or landmarks, but its people. The faces we pass on sidewalks. The voices we seldom hear. The hands that sweep our streets, deliver our meals, build our cities, raise our children, run our businesses, and carry histories both heavy and hopeful.

This is not a book of perfect pictures or polished profiles. It is a kaleidoscope of lives. Some painful. Some joyful. All human. It’s about celebrating diversity while uncovering what binds us, showing that every person — no matter their background — carries a story worth listening to, and reminding us that compassion, understanding, and human connection are the true threads of the South African spirit.

May these stories remind us of who we are and how deeply we belong to each other. May these honest portraits and heartfelt stories reveal the dignity, resilience and shared humanity of all South Africans.

This book is about Ubuntu—but many I’ve interviewed have lived lives marked by pain, not compassion. Their stories remind us that even when Ubuntu is absent, we can still choose to pass it on. So, if these stories move you, let them change how you see the world — or how you love others. Let them inspire empathy, kindness, action, and a new perspective.

This is South Africa. This is Ubuntu