Africanmealetiquette

　　InmanypartsofAfrica,foodtablesandchairsdonotmakeknivesandforks,notchopsticks,butthehandpilaf.

　　Dinner,everyonesittingaroundthecircle,alunchboxandafoodboxinthemiddle.Eachpersonholdingdownthelefthandedgeofboxlunchoradishwiththerighthandgraspinghisfingersinfrontofriceandvegetables,intothemouth.Atthispoint,youwillknowwhattodo,orevenhand-dipfullgraspofrice,whiletheAfricansthemselvespilaf,dinnereverybodymovescleanly.Dinnerguestsshouldbenotedthat,nottofoodscatteredontheground,whichistheownerofthetaboo.Mealcomplete,theelderlyarenotleft,theyoungergenerationwanttosittowait;thechildrenleft,itmustsalutetothanktheparents;guestsaftereatingahostshouldbesuchastoleave.

　　ManyplacesinAfrica,dinnerwiththestrictetiquette,andevencattleandsheepchickensandduckstoeateverypartofwhoshouldhaveprovided.SuchasinMali,chickenthighlengthofmenthenatethechickenbreastmeat,ownedbyolderwomen,toeat;-headedpeopletoeatchickenneck,stomachandliver;chicken'shead,clawsandwingsfromthechildreneating.AnotherexampleinBotswana,alargebanquetinthepublic,guests,andamantoeatbeef,marriedwomentoeatchopsuey,thetwoseparatecooking,separatemeals,notconfusion.Withthetownshipintothevulgar,tobesuitabletounderstand.

　　非洲人吃饭的礼仪

　　在非洲很多地方,吃饭不用桌椅,也不使刀叉,更不用筷子,而是用手抓饭.

　　吃饭时,大家围坐一圈,一个饭盒和一个菜盒放在中间.每个人用左手按住饭盒或菜盒的边沿,用右手的手指抓自己面前的饭和菜,送入口中.此时,你会无所适从,甚至抓得满手沾饭,而非洲人自己抓饭、吃饭时个个动作干净利落.客人吃饭时应注意的是,切勿将饭菜撒在地上,这是主人所忌讳的.饭毕,长者未离席时,晚辈要静坐等候；子女离席时,须向父母行礼致谢；客人则应等主人吃完后一道离开.

　　在非洲的不少地方,吃饭时有着严格的礼仪,甚至连牛羊鸡鸭的每个部位归谁吃都有规定.如在马里,鸡大腿当年长的男人吃,鸡胸脯肉归年长妇女吃；当家的人吃鸡脖、胃和肝；鸡的头、爪和翅膀由孩子们分食.又如在博茨瓦纳,在公众大型宴会上,宾客和男人吃牛肉,已婚的妇女吃杂碎,两者分开煮,分开食,不得混淆.随乡入俗,须了解为宜.