Culture clash: How customs differ in South African cultures
The beauty of South Africa lies in it's diversity, hence the concept of a 'rainbow' nation.
POLOKWANE – With diversity, comes with various concepts that can cause a bit a confusion. Review compiled a few of the customs and norms that contradict each other in the African and western tradition.
1. Looking in the eye
In the Western culture, it is important when you address somebody, it does not matter who it is. It shows that they have your attention and you’re interested in what they have to say, whereas in the African culture, it is rude to look at an older person in the eye. This is something you avoid doing at all cost because it’s considered disrespectful and confrontational.
2. Sitting
Who would have ever thought that sitting would ever be a cause for confusion anywhere. With the black culture, you don’t address elders unless you are sitting. For example, you into a person’s house and sit down then you can greet. Whereas the western way of doing it is to greet first and wait for the person to offer you a sit.
3. Use of first names
The quickest way of getting a beating in the African culture is to address an older person with their first name. It is an abomination to be calling an adult ‘Sam’ without the ‘uncle’ as a sign of respect.
4. Sitting with adults
Growing up in a black family, you automatically know that when your parents have guests, you have to disappear. You don’t wait to be told that they need privacy, if they don’t mind your presence they will tell you that it’s okay to stay.
5. Another full proof way of getting a hiding is to speak when the adults are talking. It’s disrespectful to speak when nobody has asked for your input on the matter being discussed by adults. And even if you are asked, you need to tread very carefully because it may come back to bite you.
