Gestures you should know before you travel to Africa

Africa is the second largest continent in the world with an estimate of about 1.3 billion. It makes up around 20% of the earth’s landmass. Africa accounts for about 16% of the world’s human population and has over 3,000 ethnic groups. The cultures vary greatly, however, there exist common values that a visitor can perceive as weird, thought-provoking, or funny. With respect to this, I present to you some of the key gestures that you should know before travelling to Africa for vacation, leisure or what-have-you.

• Hissing and Kissing Sound: The sound generated from hissing, kissing or loud smacking of the lips is often used to call the attention of someone especially someone whose name is unknown. If you are visiting Africa for the first time you should not be surprised or offended when you see people calling you by hissing or kissing. It is totally accepted and very common across Africa.
• Left Hand Taboo: Africans generally tend to favor the right hand over the left hand. Hence, the restriction or dislike for the left hand in areas related to eating, giving and receiving money or gifts, and pointing. As a child we get scolded whenever we give or receive anything with the left hand. It is polite to receive with both hands or give with the right hand. In fact, it is perceived as a taboo to use your left hand to eat or point at someone. Unlike other parts of the world where gestures with the left hand are normalized, they often attract sanction in most African homes. Some people tend to look away when gestures are made with the left hand and act like it’s normal but deep inside it is not.
• Rubbing of Fingers: The thumb and index finger of one hand are crossed to make gestures. In Africa, this gesture is often made in context relating to money or the feel of texture. In most cases, you don’t have to explain anything because the meaning is clear and well understood by many. However, in places like South Korea this could mean something entirely different. This simple gesture is performed to make a wish, show likeness for something or some sort of encouragement or solidarity in other parts of the world.
• Pointing at someone: Generally, It is not advisable for you to point at someone with your hand or foot directly. Pointing the index finger at someone is considered rude. Personally I make use of my chin or employ the use of “clock position” . Also, you must avoid pointing or calling someone with your palm facing upward making a “V” shape. It is considered an act of disrespect. Lastly, the sole of your feet is considered the one of the dirtiest parts of your body and as such you should avoid showing or pointing it at someone, especially when seated in a gathering.

Which of these gestures can you relate with?
What do you think about these gestures?

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ReferencesSayre, April Pulley (1999), Africa, Twenty-First Century Books. ISBN 0–7613–1367–2.
World Population prospects — Population division””. population.un.org. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
Essegbey, James. “75. Gestures in West Africa: Left hand taboo in Ghana”. Volume 2, edited by Cornelia Müller, Alan Cienki, Ellen Fricke, Silva Ladewig, David McNeill and Jana Bressem, Berlin, München, Boston: De Gruyter Mouton, 2014, pp. 1161–1169. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110302028.1161
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_gestures