Etiquette

A person who adheres to the principle “let’s put aside the conventionalities and do it in a simple way” has little chance to find an understanding among Africans. Certainly, a stranger will be forgiven his or her unawareness of minor details of the etiquette, but a conscious disregard of these norms cannot be considered as anything else than boorishness or even rudeness. Nobody will be willing to deal with such a person. The etiquette and the conventionalities is an entire cultural code which can be understood and interpreted by those who know it; by observing the code one manifests one’s attitude toward the other people.

A stranger may do his best to respect the etiquette, but it is very difficult to fail to breach it somehow. Interdictions and restrictions are specific to each culture, they may be absolutely unpredictable; what is prohibited by the etiquette of one ethnic group may be prescribed by the norms of another group. Simple logic does not work in this sphere: etiquette norms can be only memorized.

To greet a friend, it takes time.  Cote d'Ivoire. A. V. Erman. 2007.		The working team “Drop the lie!” is happy: before the work begins, the owner of the farm treats the workers to rice. Côte d’Ivoire. Santa. Vydrin V., 2002