In African societies, eating is much more than savouring a delicious meal, it is also a form of cultural expression. Africa is a huge continent with a wide variety of cultures, traditions and food customs, and it is curious to note that when it comes to eating, African peoples as a whole adopt more or less similar practices. But what distinguishes the African way of eating from that of other cultures? It’s this very special way of life that we’re going to explore briefly.  

ALL SEATED AND IN GROUPS!  

When it’s time for dinner, Africans, faithful to their traditions, are happy to dispense with the Western table. In Africa, people generally eat seated on the ground with a mat or simple blanket to avoid getting dirty. This is because some ethnic groups believe that sitting on the ground promotes a sense of humility and closeness to nature. What’s more, in hot climates, sitting on the ground can be more comfortable as it allows better air circulation. 

Cooking and sharing a meal is first and foremost a time for family and social gatherings.  

Meals strengthen social ties and create a sense of cohesion within the family and the community. As Africa is a land of collective values and the common good, people naturally eat in groups. This is to facilitate socialisation between individuals. So every meal becomes a special moment of sharing. 

EVEN BETTER WITH YOUR FINGERS! 

Another distinctive feature is the fact that you don’t need a cutlery set when you eat. Eating with your fingers is an age-old tradition in African culture, and is often a reflection of the hospitality and cultural identity of a community, which was a norm dating back to antiquity before the advent of cutlery. What’s more, the specific nature of many African dishes such as fufu, Thieb, Tajine, gombo sauce, etc. means that you have to use your fingers to feel more at ease when tasting them.  

A TRUE LESSON IN LIVELIHOODS. 

Much more than a trivial act, eating in Africa is a real ritual. And as with all good rituals, there are rules to be respected. Food becomes a school where the African passes on all his knowledge of how to live, especially to the younger generation. A whole protocol! These authentic rules include bowing one’s head in the presence of adults and not talking when eating, seen as an exercise in silence. Taking another handful of food without having finished the previous one is seen as a lack of patience.  

Even more curious. Among certain peoples, it is very common for the youngest children to wait until the end of the meal to receive their piece of meat, in order to learn to tame the vice of gluttony…  

In all, several other practices of this kind have been recorded across the continent.

CONCLUSION  

In the final analysis, Africans stand out for the way they eat. Every meal is transformed into a space where each clan demonstrates its cultural identity. And this is done in pure respect for tradition.  Unfortunately, with modernisation and urbanisation, many households seem to have lost this cultural heritage in favour of a more Western way of eating. It’s a sad state of affairs!