Food was scarce in my family when I was growing up. If you came across food, you had to eat as much as you could because you were never assured of another chance. In fact, we had a saying in my language: “Kaminda akiie ni kila waite,” meaning “Kaminda (a person) escaped with what he had eaten.” The essence of the phrase was that whatever you had eaten was the only thing you could count on. My late mother often used this line when we said we wanted to do something first and come back to eat. Her message was “eat now tomorrow is not promised.”
Later, I joined university in Western Kenya, where food was more abundant. One day, we went on a mission. Upon arrival, we were served tea, bread, and groundnuts. The Kaminda concept flashed in my mind, and I did justice to the table prepared before me in the presence of my enemies.
A few hours later, our hosts brought out a feast of indigenous chicken, ugali, and traditional vegetables. Unfortunately, the Kaminda principle had already compromised my digestive system. I can’t quite remember if I forced myself to eat dinner but let’s just say your guess is as good as my enemies’.
Only later did I come to understand the cultural misstep I had made. In that community where Kaminda met indigenous chicken, the tradition is that a visitor should not finish all the food served. If they do, it’s considered a shame to the host. It implies the host did not provide enough.
Understanding Communication and Culture
Observing local cultural practices before engaging, especially in unfamiliar environments is important. One theory that helps explain this is Edward T. Hall’s High-Context and Low-Context Communication Theory. Hall (1976) argues that in high-context cultures, like many African communities, much of the communication is indirect and deeply rooted in shared understandings, traditions, and non-verbal cues. In contrast, low-context cultures rely more on direct, explicit verbal communication.
In high-context cultures, such as the one I visited, meaning is often derived from behavior, tone, and context rather than words. Finishing your food might literally mean satisfaction in one culture but imply insufficiency in another. This is why it’s crucial to observe what the natives do before jumping in with your own assumptions or practices.
Next time you’re in a new culture, slow down, observe, and follow the queue. Kaminda may have escaped with a full belly, but cultural sensitivity is a richer kind of nourishment. I’ve been served the same meal again today and now; I know how to handle it like a local.
Reference:
Hall, E. T. (1976). Beyond culture. Anchor Books.