South Africa was recently voted the world's friendliest country. Now, what makes the Rainbow Nation so friendly? Let's check it out -- here are 5 reasons why South Africa is so friendly.
00:00Did you know South Africa was recently named the world's friendliest country?
00:15From warm greetings to a deep culture of Ubuntu, it's a place where strangers become family and visitors are made to feel at home.
00:21South Africa was recently ranked the world's friendliest country, but what does that really mean?
00:27Is it just about smiling at strangers or something deeper?
00:31To find out, we explore four ways South Africans live out of the spirit of Ubuntu, a philosophy of shared humanity that turns friendliness into action.
00:41At number four, we have friendly tourism that encourages connection.
00:45Part of the study said residents are known for being warm and welcoming, making it easy for travelers and visitors to feel at ease around them.
00:53I'm here at popular tourist destination just outside of Johannesburg City, Lisede Cultural Village. Hundreds of tourists fly here each year.
01:01South African friendliness is on full display here as visitors are welcomed not just with warm greetings, but with stories, dances and shared traditions.
01:11Here in Lisede, we offer cultural experience. We do dance and also we do tour. What tourists get to learn here in Lisede Cultural Village, they get to learn about the cultures, the South African cultures.
01:25It's my first time in South Africa and somehow it sort of feels like home.
01:30The people of South Africa are very hostile. They are very happy. I love to be here and I hope to come here again.
01:38Well, that's a solid foundation for the title of friendliest nation.
01:43Number four, check. But what's in third place? We all know South Africa faces serious challenges, crime and employment inequality.
01:52But if there's one thing we do well, it's laugh at ourselves. South Africans find humor in every situation, good or bad.
02:01So, number three is humor. Because humor is how we cope, connect and stay resilient, it's not just jokes, it's Ubuntu in action.
02:10Finding joy together, even in tough times.
02:13In fact, to add to our world's best country status, we were recently ranked among the top 20 funniest nations in the world.
02:22From the chaos of minibus taxis with their own rules to the everyday frustrations of power and water cuts, we turn our frustration into shared laughter.
02:32And with comedians like Trevor Noah, Celeste Ntuli and Noiso Gola, we've made humor a national strength.
02:40And I'll give you number two right after, because I'm generous. And that's exactly what it's all about.
02:46Reason number two, generosity. Even with so little, South Africans give freely on their time, resources and hearts.
02:53Ubuntu also means giving even when you don't have much. South Africans share time, resources and care.
02:59Like here at the Little Rose Centre, a crèche and children's centre founded in 1993.
03:05It was the first crèche in Klip Town, one of Soweto Johannesburg's first informal settlements.
03:10Place where community steps in to support children and parents in need.
03:15So I'm here with Ma Patronella, who's been at Little Rose for 11 years.
03:20Ma, what makes Little Rose so special?
03:22Oh, for us, for me, I can say, it's special because we can assist parents that are not working, to come and bring their kids for a day, to be safe, to learn, to be in a better place, yes.
03:39I like to help people. And when I volunteer, my passion is actually to work with children, I love children.
03:48I volunteer at Little Rose Centre because being around children is one of the things that I enjoy.
03:53Because some of the children around the community are not able to afford things that other children have.
03:58Many people from the community don't have many things.
04:01So what makes South Africa the world's friendliest country? We're not done yet.
04:07Coming up, the philosophy that ties it all together and why it's more than just hospitality.
04:13And right at the top, we have Ubuntu. The world calls it hospitality, want and kindness, but to us, it's much more.
04:20Ubuntu, I am because we are.
04:23That's Ubuntu, an African worldview rooted in compassion, dignity and community. It's not just kindness, it's a way of life. Ubuntu is why strangers become family and why friendliness in South Africa is more than a smile. It's solidarity.
04:41Ubuntu means being kind to other people, being there for other people and going out of your way to see that the next person is okay.
04:49Taking your time to understand the next person, because you don't know what the next person is facing. So just trying to be kind.
04:56So when I hear the word Ubuntu, I think about people coming together to unite as one, because we all are one.
05:04After today, I'm not surprised by the warmth the world sees radiating from our rainbow nation.
05:10Knowing the term friendliest country may not be the right one. What we've seen is Ubuntu.
05:15Ubuntu, a deep shared humanity that welcomes, supports and uplifts.
05:19Unless you support the wrong rugby team, then all bets are off.
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05:34Go to my store and take the whole bunch of�לports.
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