Gabon customs and etiquette
The Republic of Gabon is located on the west coast of central Africa, straddling the equatorial line. Gabon is a multi-ethnic country with more than 40 ethnic groups, mainly Fang (accounting for 30% of the country's population), Bapnu (accounting for 25%), etc. There are two major ethnic groups in the country: Pygmies and Bantu. The official language is French, and the national languages are Fang, Mienne and Bataikai. 50% of the residents believe in Catholic;20% believe in Protestant Christianity;10% believe in Islam; and the rest believe in primitive religions.
Gabon is at a stage where traditional marriage and modern marriage coexist. Traditional marriage is prevalent in most rural areas, while modern marriage is prevalent in cities.
Gabonese clothes, whether men or women, are dazzling. Men's clothing is simple and comfortable. Gabon has a long summer all year round. People wear a flowered shirt, a pair of trousers, a pair of slippers, or simply barefoot. Of course, on official grand occasions, people wearing suits and a gentleman's demeanor can also be found everywhere.
Women love dresses and also have skirts. But no matter which style, the fabric is pure cotton cloth with good breathability and water absorption. What is indispensable for Gabonese women is colorful headscarves. The turban is usually wrapped from the forehead, along the ears and backwards. Some people wrap it around their heads a few times before stuffing it in. Some people want to save trouble and simply tie a knot behind their heads. Gabonese women have the habit of putting heavy objects on their heads, so their headscarves can not only protect their hair but also maintain balance.
Gabonese men usually have beards and short hair. Women regard long hair as their beauty, and girls have tied their hair into many pigtails since childhood. In fact, these cannot be braids, because they are not plaited, but are made of tying up a hair with thin black lines, that is, winding it with thin threads from the root of the hair and all the way to the tip of the hair. Women have many hairstyles, and people can distinguish their age and social status from their hair styles. Because girls and daughters-in-law, women who have not given birth and women who have given birth, and even mothers who have given birth to twins, people in mourning have different hairstyles.
Gabonese women also like to wear jewelry, and generally wear collars. In the past, most of them were made of wrought iron and brass, but today they wear gold, silver and precious stones. They also have earrings for both ears, and bangles and anklets are must-have ornaments.
Gabonese people are hospitable and pay attention to etiquette, and one has been educated and trained in etiquette since childhood. In urban areas, meeting etiquette is popular in Europe, with most people shaking hands and greeting each other. Men are called "gentlemen" and women are called "ladies","madam" or "miss". In rural areas, traditional African-style addresses are still used to date. Men always call guests of their own age as brothers, and older guests are mostly called "Dad" or "Mom". When meeting guests you are familiar with, you always take the initiative to greet them warmly, and nod and bow to express your greetings. If the guests are old friends who have been reunited for a long time, they are even more cordial. They put their right hands on each other's shoulders and put their left hands around each other's waist. They often spend more than 10 minutes in greeting from their bodies to work, and from their families to friends.