South African Author’s Ubuntu Stoicism Inspires a New Literary Genre

Johannesburg, South Africa — South African author and entrepreneur Tiisetso Maloma’s groundbreaking book, Introducing Ubuntu Stoicism: Gain Joy, Resilience, Productivity, and Defuse Anxiety, continues to rise in global popularity three years after its initial release.

Although Maloma did not embark on a promotional tour when the book came out in 2022, it maintains steady weekly sales on platforms like Amazon and has captured attention across online communities, including Reddit, and social media platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, where memes and videos inspired by the book’s philosophy circulate widely.

The book merges two ancient philosophies — the Greek Stoicism and the African philosophy of Ubuntu — into a uniquely African approach to resilience and personal growth. Ubuntu Stoicism has since inspired a literary and philosophical genre, reflecting the growing global appetite for practical, culturally rooted wisdom.

Sections on Nelson Mandela and Snoop Dogg, alongside insights from Maloma’s own life, connect readers with universal lessons on virtue, humility, and self-discipline.

Introducing Ubuntu Stoicism has gained attention from prominent organizations, including the Obama Foundation, and has been cited in philosophy, stoicism, and lifestyle publications worldwide. The University of Johannesburg’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi, highlighted the work in Forbes Africa, noting its relevance for cultivating excellence in modern life.

The book was released alongside a unique NFT, marking Maloma’s embrace of digital innovation alongside traditional publishing. Its impact reached philosophical spaces, with Maloma invited to speak at the Plato’s Academy Centre, where Anya Leonard of Classical Wisdom — a site dedicated to bringing ancient wisdom to modern minds — later contributed the book’s Foreword.

Maloma first encountered Stoicism through Tim Ferriss’s podcast and author Ryan Holiday, integrating it with African proverbs and Ubuntu philosophy. Commentators like Kwame Otieno Bala, author of Stoic Roots, have referenced Maloma’s work and noted that, according to the Global Philosophy Trends Report (2025), interest in combined Ubuntu-Stoic practices has surged by 150% globally, reflecting their growing relevance.

“Ubuntu Stoicism is about harmonizing the self and community, balancing inner virtue with external responsibility,” says Maloma. “It’s about living intentionally, finding resilience, and contributing positively to those around you. The philosophy is as relevant today as it was when Stoicism and Ubuntu were first practiced centuries ago.”

Maloma’s fusion of Stoicism and Ubuntu continues to inspire a global audience, turning practical philosophy into a culturally resonant literary genre that bridges Africa and the world.

Maloma has also played a key role in shaping South Africa’s “diary chronicle” literary genre, a term he co-coined with journalist Lesedi Setlhodi. Since 2019, through Bula Buka Publishers, he has angel-invested in and published works within this genre, helping it gain prominence and academic recognition, including in a UCLA paper by Professor Stephanie Bosch Santana.