Community is the new killer app

Life can be very challenging but there is one thing that might save us all.

It is trendy these days to keep reminding the world about the pace of change. I believe one thing will remain relevant after the world has gone tech mad and we have the internet plugged directly into our central nervous systems. That one thing that no machine or computer algorithm can achieve. A true sense of community.

No I don’t mean connecting to people via social media or collecting followers. I mean true community of getting people who live in close proximity to each other to work together.

There is a familiar scene in Zimbabwean communities, which is actually played out across many African communities. It’s a scene where there is loud wailing as one approaches the homestead with people throwing themselves to the floor in grief. Dressed in black and surrounded by members of the community.

The scene is of a funeral where each member of the community joins with other friends and relatives of the deceased to mourn. Even in the poorest communities, provision for the burial is not made only through burial societies, but rather each mourner coming with some element of contribution. Typically, the women will bring with them a bucket of maize meal tied into a sack, or any other item of grocery they are able to sacrifice. In formal work settings a collection is done with members of the workforce putting together money to contribute towards the deceased’s burial plans.

Nobody goes hungry and everyone has a place to sleep. At one such funeral I shared a blanket on the ground next to a fire with 3 other men. Top tip…always choose to be in the middle because nobody can pull blankets away from you.

In everyday life we are surrounded by people with a variety of skills, talents, gifts and interests. We are also surrounded by people with needs, large or small that we can assist in alleviating. Most upper and middle class communities have a car or two parked overnight in their driveway, but how many of them would you be able to call to take you to the hospital at 2am?

That ability to make that call and get a reply is a great proxy for a sense of community. The ability to be self sufficient as people who are in each other’s space. To be less reliant on external factors such as the capability of the government or some for profit service provider.

I have seen this process already unfolding in many suburbs in Harare. I have a friend whose brother directs traffic every morning to alleviate traffic jams at broken traffic lights. In many communities when there is an electrical fault the community club together to purchase the required materials and get electricity flowing again. Neighbours are being forced to talk and they are providing solutions at a pace far quicker than the local utility could dream of.

My prediction is that this ability to gel together for a common cause at a local level is what will make the difference into the future. Governments are worried about re-election and capitalists are worried about profits. Maybe it’s time for us to start worrying about each other!