Rendering Bantu being as mere possession of force misstates their ontology.

Evidence

It must be said that the Bantu have a double concept concerning “being”, which can be expressed: “being is that which has force”. But I think we must go further. Our statement of Bantu Philosophy should adhere as closely as possible to its distinctive characteristics. It seems to me that we shall not attain this precision by formulating the notion of “being” in Bantu thought, as “being is that which possesses force”. … I believe that we should most faithfully render Bantu thought in European language by saying that the Bantu speak, act, and live as if, for them, beings are forces. — Frans Dokman, Beyond Bantu Philosophy_…, 228

Categorization

• DEFINE: Distinguishes the weak reading (beings have force) from the strong reading (beings are forces) — a precision the author insists on.