merchandise

[Shango Oluwa]

Well, on this topic of merchandise...

I would just like to break something down here for the list:

'Ubuntu' is an African word, yes, but specifically it is a Nguni word
from southern Africa - so, for instance, the word is not used in Sudan
(although its equivalent exists - despite Arab colonialism's efforts to
deny Africans their humanity in that region). Importantly, Cape Town, in
South Africa has an excellent textile and clothing industry that will
deliver the same quality fabric and screen-printing as that available
via CafeExpress at vast cost-savings to buyers and with moral fibre...

Respect to the international community, but the use of a US enterprise
(that also prints right-wing political merchandise for $$) to promote an
OS labelled with "an ancient African word meaning 'humanity to others'"
is unacceptable. I can suggest a socially responsible printer in Mark
Shuttleworth's country to anyone responsible for merchandise - feel free
to ask.

I am not looking to tussle politics here, I just want to point out what
is at stake here. This is the Free and Open Source Software community,
so let us keep that in mind. When, you, the UbuntuLinux team chose
'ubuntu' you subscribed to an African value system that we African's
will stand by and call you to honour.

CafeExpress - no
Ubuntu 	    - yes


Concerned,

Shango Oluwa