What is “suru?”
The richness of African languages often holds profound wisdom, and “suru” is no exception. In Zarma, a mesmerizing West African language once echoing in the corridors of the mighty Songhai Empire, the word “suru” isn’t just a term. It embodies an entire philosophy, loosely translating into “patience.”
However, “patience” in the context of Western languages might not fully capture the depths of what “suru” signifies. It’s not just about waiting or enduring; it’s a profound inner strength, a resilience deeply ingrained in the human spirit. It’s the fortitude that empowers us during our most vulnerable moments, enabling us to dust off our wounds and rise again. Suru is the silent anchor that ensures we persevere through tumultuous times, and it’s the whisper that reminds us to cling to hope, even when faced with insurmountable odds. More than that, suru is also about mindfulness – our innate capability to select serenity and calmness, especially when anger and frustration loom.
Drawing from the roots of this wisdom, an ancient West African proverb beautifully articulates, “To live in this world, you must have suru.” It’s not just about existing but thriving with grace and resilience. Here at the Suru Institute, we don’t just believe in this proverb’s message. We champion its teachings, emphasizing its relevance, as a personal mantra for individual growth and as a guiding beacon for addressing and finding innovative solutions to social issues worldwide.
Our Mission
Advancing awareness of social problems that threaten democracy and ground-up, culture-specific solutions by promoting, publishing, and translating the work of scholars worldwide who endorse free societies. We believe empowering people at the grassroots level requires an intimate understanding of these problems and their nuances as they occur in their own respective countries or regions.
Our Vision
Creating an inclusive body of scholarly research promoting freedom and democracy that incorporates valuable insights from all areas of the globe and making it available to a broader audience.