A couple of years back we held two amazing events in collaboration with others. The natural hair and art festival and a tourism tour that ushered guests into the afro-Caribbean world! Everyone was wowed beyond words at this hospitality especially the foreigners who travelled down, got amazing hotel bookings, food travel deals and so on
When we speak of hospitality the truth is some ethnic cultures have it more than others. Many people confuse hospitality or politeness but in practice true hospitality is all of that and so much more. It is leading with the heart, going the extra mile and being there for someone almost as if you are anticipating their needs.
Hospitality is a stable staple in many African cultures and off course it needs not be said that it has an effect on the person’s mental health. African culture varies from Ghana to Nigeria to Angola, there is no one universal culture that connects them all. However there are strands of such cultures that anthropologist’s have seen diffused from one end of the continent to the other even spreading to the India ocean to cross to Caribbean countries. Some of these cultures exists till today and we will sample three in this short post. Ask your self which one can you still do today if you were to host a traveler, so that they will leave your space feeling enchanted and in refreshed moods?
FIRST FEATURED AFRICAN HOSPITALITY
It is common in many ethnic groups of Nigeria- Igbo, Yoruba, Urhobo, Ijaw etc to invite guests or stranded people to spend the night over and to attend community/village events during their stay, sharing afternoon meals, and night-time meals.
This sharing promotes a wonderful sense of community and a sense of belonging that leads the visitor to feel included and less isolate or alone. It is true that despite security cameras and expensive technology this simple act may seem too much for many in western lands where everything is often divided, a high sense of suspicion is present and a sense of hyper-independence is encouraged leaving new comers, including international students, people moving to new cities for jobs within a country, new immigrants feeling alone. Many families living in western lands also have members feeling isolated due to not connecting more with peers of the same age. Occasionally adopting this meal sharing culture or overnight stays even if the meal shared is very simple can certainly contribute to lifting that social veil separating both parties.
UNCONDITIONAL READINESS TO SHARE
African culture is influenced largely by hunter gatherer tribes some of whom like the Mazda still live there on the continent. Sorry sugars this is not a research paper so I shall not be citing any references but feel free to reach out to me on that personally if you need the sources. Due to this sources, so many African groups still have that readiness to share without expectations embedded into it. When someone invites you to have a meal among the Yoruba owambe culture for example, you do not need to feel pressured to buy your own food, or to come with your own bills. This is on the host and they will host you like you are a king. Indeed you will eat until you are satisfied and truly be convinced that your travel to that event was worth it.
They expect you to eat so no one will be giving you the eye of filling your plate twice, what even thrice or five times. When i first arrived in North America, one place i always went to to feel welcomed was the African store. After filling my cart we would always gather around the cashier and simply chat about nothing. Often when the cashier noticed that I picked something that was more expensive than I planned many times they left it for me, despite my insisting otherwise, or they gave me what is called “jara” in Yoruba or “emera ba” in Urhobo in Nigeria’s Niger-Delta.
There were no expectations for me to do anything more. Doing a little bit of this can also help travelers feel loved and included in the society has this culture. Some people are struggling and a little kindness or jara does go a long way. This also reminds me of Nicki Minaj’s stylist refusing her money after getting her hair done saying she is just happy to celebrate Nicki (Remember that Caribbean spread I mentioned earlier?)
THIRD FEATURED AFRICAN CULTURE-Try this one at your own risk.
The third African culture on Hospitality I want to highlight is really to make you laugh and to emphasize the importance of hospitality in this space and how we can all borrow from each other cultural practices that will make our lives feel better and well yes, more enchanting! This is the culture practiced among the TIV where visitors are actually given …wait for it…the hosts wife! Don’t say i did not warn you. I am not certain if this is still being done in Nigeria but it was quite a steer while we were growing up.
Any girl who loved a TIV man was promptly warned of the consequences of such a love affair by her family. Hahaha ok there readers this one is at your own peril. I hope this has created a clear picture of how amazing a trip to mother Africa could potentially be. You can expect more hospitality, ethnic culture and travel posts from us but if you are considering a trip to the sahara…my good collaborator Mileage travels is a good place to start. The can be reached via this email. Use code EnchantingNT005 for a 5% discount on your bookings with them.
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