Umsamo Experience

Siyabongo Lembede is a South African born entrepreneur. He is based in Richards Bay, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. He shared his Umsamo Experience with M. N. M

Tell us about yourself. 

I'm Siyabongo Lembede an entrepreneur. I run a Meter Taxi business in a province called KwaZulu Natal. I've been in the Meter Taxi business for about 7 to 8 years. I also do community work related with African history. That's what I do. 

What is Meter Taxi business like? Is it like taxis in Uganda?

Yes, it is similar except that we do not use an application but we are also in the business of developing our own application. 

You've talked about doing work with Pan African affairs. How did you get started with that kind of work?

I saw the need of us the African people to engage in our history because we've lost the content of who we are and we are not even interested in our African history. I decided to start such a program so that it can remind the African people of who they're. That way the African people are able to understand themselves and they're able to understand the African future challenges. 

I understand Dr. Baba Buntu coordinated the Umsamo Experience. How did you get in touch with him and how did you know about the Umsamo Experience? Did you know him prior to the Umsamo Experience or you got to know him during the Umsamo experience?

I've known Dr Baba Buntu for more than 10 years. I first got to know him in 2009 and I've been in touch with him since then. The Umsamo experience is not the reason I've known him. He was earlier known to me. 

What role has he played in your in relation to Pan African affairs and to you as an individual?

He has played a big part in my life. He has played the role of a father in my life. He encourages me in many things and I've also learnt a lot from the work that he does and his company eBukhosini Solutions. He is been a mentor to me, he is been a teacher, and a big role model. 

Siyabongo Lembede in one of his light moments during his stay in Uganda 

That's nice to learn. You've lived in South Africa your whole life. When you got to Uganda, what's that one thing that you found strange as soon as you got there? And what's that that you found so unique between Uganda and South Africa ?

According to the parts of the country that I've been too, the environment here is similar to the one back at home. I can't say there is much difference cause the environment here is not very different from the one that I experience back at home. There is a difference but it is minimal.

When you say the environment is the same with the one back at home what do you mean?? Do you mean culturally, infrastructure or economically or the people are the same? Come clear on that please.

I mean the standards of living of the people are the same.

How about the social environment?

South Africa's social environment is not very different from Uganda's social environment.There are not many differences. Except along the roads.

What do you mean by Roads? Do you mean, the riders and drivers are different? Do you mean there are riders and drivers that behave differently or??

In South Africa, there is order on the roads unlike here in Uganda.

Do you mean Ugandan road users especially drivers and riders do not respect the road rules and regulations??

Yes, it looks like that.

There is no respect for road signs whatsoever. Is that what you mean?

Yes, there is no respect for road signs whatsoever here in Uganda. We also have the same problem in South Africa but at a very small margin.

Tell me about what the Umsamo experience is been for you. 

Umsamo experience is been a good experience for me. It is been my first time to travel out of South Africa. It has helped me grow and be in the space of elders for more than 10 days. All the days we have been to Uganda we have been to different places and learnt so many different things from so many different people. It is been a revolutionary initiation.

What lessons have you picked from the experience and what will be your action points now that you have got this experience? Does that mean you will do more travels for more enlightenment?

Yeah, it has given me a challenge that I should travel more in Mama Africa. And I should learn more about other cultures of Mama Africa. Am now really interested in learning how they live in other countries in Africa.   In the places where I went, I was challenged to learn that the Ugandan people embrace their languages and their cultures much more seriously. And I was also amazed to meet +256, a youth group which doesn't seem to have much resources but the works they're doing are tremendous.

Is there a particular program that you want to start when you get back home based on your lessons from the Umsamo experience?

There is a program that I already run but my experience here in Uganda has inspired me to push harder  and do better on the program that I run back at home. 

What's the program that you run back at home in Mzansi?

I run a movement called Kuumba Nia.

What does Kuumba Nia mean?

It is a Swahili word which means creative purpose.Kuumba for creative and Nia for purpose. We deal in educating the community about African history.

That's amazing to learn. In what particular way has the Umsamo Experience shaped you to make Kuumba Nia better?

The people we met while in Uganda have empowered us with so much knowledge, with an amazing culture that I will then use and incorporate with the work that I do with Kuumba Nia.

What message do you have for the young people of Uganda?

While coming to Uganda, I didn't know much about the Ugandan culture. And when I got here, I was surprised by how friendly Ugandans are. And the people in Uganda are not as greedy as we are greedy in South Africa. Maybe it's because I was here for a few days. The time I have been here I've not seen people fighting on the streets, the time I've been here I've not heard of a house robbery, no shootings and no killings. We've met a lot of youths since we met here. I would like to encourage the youth of Uganda to push on with the works that they're doing. They're very active youths and they should keep on pushing for both their country and mother Africa.

What lessons do you have for South African young people?

There is need for South African young people to get out of their comfort zones. They need to Learn from our fellow African brothers and sisters and not look down upon them. We should learn from them and start visiting other African countries on the continent.

Anything else you would want to say?

I think I've said it all. (He then laughs). Honestly speaking, I've had a very good experience in Uganda. And ever since I got here, I've never felt away from home. It didn't even cross my mind that I was away from home. The environment I've been in is been an amazing environment and I've met amazing people in Uganda.