Key taboos in African countries and regions
The main residents of the region north of the Sahara are white Arabs and believe in Islam, including six countries: Sudan, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. The sub-Saharan region is mainly inhabited by blacks, and there are also many descendants of European colonies. Most of them believe in primitive religions and Islam. The primitive indigenous religious culture is relatively well preserved. A few believe in Catholicism or Christianity. Don't use your left hand when you say hello; don't shake hands with Africans weakly, they think that the harder you work, the friendlier you are; Africans have strong self-esteem, so don't take backward and dirty shots at will; Africans generally avoid taking photos, and people, houses, and livestock are not allowed to take photos at will.
Egypt
Islam is the state religion.
1. You must take off your shoes when entering the mosque. People wearing vests, shorts and short skirts are not allowed to enter the mosque.
2. Friday is the Islamic rest day, so do not arrange official duties on this day; avoid visiting during Ramadan.
3. Don't use your left hand when giving or accepting gifts; avoid eating with your left hand.
4. No alcoholic beverages are allowed for Egyptians.
5. Greetings between the opposite sex are usually handshakes, only relatives can be face-to-face ceremony; men do not take the initiative to shake hands with women; between the opposite sex can not visit each other; public kissing is prohibited.
6. When shaking hands, do not cross the handshake of four people; men must stand up from their seats when shaking hands, women do not have to; when using gesture language, try not to touch your hands together.
7. Avoid sitting with your feet facing out or facing each other; hate yawning and avoid spitting in public.
8. In Muslim homes, it is forbidden to greet or inquire about the hostess; there are many teahouses, but women are not allowed to enter; it is forbidden to praise women for being slender.
9. Dress conservatively. Women are prohibited from wearing short, thin, transparent and revealing clothes. Men are also not allowed to wear vests and shorts. Even babies are not allowed to be uncovered.
10. Avoid black and blue, and don't like purple and yellow.
11. Wearing clothes with star patterns is prohibited, and packaging with star patterns is also unpopular; pig, dog, bear, and cat patterns are prohibited.
12. Avoid eating pork, dog meat, mule meat, or seafood such as shrimp, crab, turtles, and turtles, animal viscera (except liver), eels, turtles, etc., and animal viscera, blood, and self-dead objects.
13. Talk is taboo during formal meals, and no noise is allowed when drinking soup or drinks.
14. Needles are taboo in most places, and never buy and sell needles from 3 to 5 p.m.
15. Avoid talking about Middle East politics.
16. Taboo number 13.
South Africa
The ethnic composition is complex, believing in Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Islam and some primitive religions, and blacks and whites follow different etiquette.
1. Taboo 13 and Friday.
2. It is taboo for outsiders to disrespect their ancestors.
3. In South Africa, different skin colors cannot be emphasized, and white people cannot be judged on merit.
4. Black people cannot be called AFRICAN.
5. Don't congratulate the other person on the birth of a boy, and don't show a preference for boys over girls.
6. Not used to eating raw food, but likes to eat cooked food.
7. When visiting a South African home, the owner will take out Rubao tea and serve freshly milked milk or goat's milk, or homemade beer. Guests must drink more, and it is best to drink it in one gulp.
8. It is forbidden for women to approach what they consider sacred treasures, such as fires, barns, etc.
9. We cannot comment on the relationships and contradictions between different black tribes or factions, avoid criticizing the ancient habits of blacks, and avoid talking about local politics, especially racial policies.
Ethiopia
More than half of the people believe in Christianity and about one-third believe in Islam.
1. Taboo 13.
2. Taboo with left hand.
3. Wednesdays and Fridays are fasting days. In addition, there are 70 mandatory fasting days. Meat, eggs, milk are not allowed during fasting, and seafood such as fish and shrimp can be eaten.
4. Avoid black, yellow and light yellow, especially yellow and light yellow. Avoid using these colors on bouquets and clothing.
5. Donkeys are "sacred objects". They are hard-working, loyal and kind animals. They cannot be abused, let alone eat donkey meat.
6. Forbidden religious symbols.
7. Avoid sticking out your tongue.
Tanzania
Most believe in Christianity, Catholicism and Islam, while a few believe in traditional religions.
1. Sitting gracefully in front of the elderly should not cross your legs.
2. I don't like strangers entering my house casually, let alone strangers entering my bedroom.
3. The Krai people often entertain guests with "snake rice" as a token of their respect. They must eat it all in one go and cannot spit it out.
4. The Haya people avoid birds most in their diet, including chickens and eggs, insects, and alcohol.
5. Hosts often give gifts when visitors leave the country. At this time, guests can return gifts to the host, but do not send flowers.
6. Avoid passing things or food with your left hand.
7. They think that it is impolite to call others in the most respectful language and not to call them by their first name.
8. People who believe in Christianity avoid 13; people who believe in Islam abstain from pork and use pig products, and also avoid talking about pigs.
9. Avoid talking about local politics.
Nigeria
Nearly half of the people believe in Islam and one-third believe in Christianity.
1. Taboo 13.
2. Avoid leaving your left hand and do not use your left hand to make any gestures.
3. Before shaking hands, first flick your thumb a few times on your hand before shaking hands with the other person.
4. Contact in advance for appointments, especially when meeting government officials.
5. Don't use the gesture of waving your hands to summon people, let alone waving your hands in front of their face.
6. Consider red and black unlucky colors.
7. Locals never look into each other's eyes during conversation, and they also avoid looking into their own eyes.
8. It is best to take off your shoes before entering the house when going to a local person's home.
9. If the Igbo people have guests visiting, if they delay in bringing out the "Korago", it means rejecting the guests. Those who are sensible will leave quickly to avoid unhappiness.
10. The Issa people believe that the index finger is ominous. No matter who points the index finger of their right hand at them, it is a provocative move. If someone reaches out and opens their fingers to face them, it is a rude and humiliating gesture, equivalent to insulting their ancestors.
11. In addition to eating pork and left-handed hands, Muslims also avoid eating other livestock that died without formal slaughter and ban pig products.
12. Married women avoid eating eggs most.
13. Avoid talking about politics, especially issues related to Africa, and avoid others advocating atheism in person.
Angola
Half of the people are Roman Catholic and a few are Christian.
1. Taboo 13 and Friday.
2. Pay special attention to respecting the elderly and loving the young. If someone is disrespectful to the elderly, they will be scolded or even flogged.
3. I don't like to talk business after work, especially after dinner, and I don't want anyone to visit me at night.
4. Invited to the home guests, not early nor late, do not look around in other people's houses, can not take off shoes and socks, yawn at the owner.
Algeria
Islam is the state religion.
1. Outsiders call local people by their titles and surnames.
2. Avoid talking about issues caused by politics and industry.
3. Avoid using pig and panda patterns.
4. Opposite sex generally do not shake hands, hug or perform face-to-face greetings; it is very rude for men and women to be too close in public, even for couples or couples; and you cannot greet each other's female relatives.
5. Women are not allowed to go to the cinema, and it is taboo to take photos and video videos of Algeria women.
6. Think a weak handshake impolite.
7. Flowers must be sent in even numbers.
8. I don't like salty food.
9. Avoid passing objects with your left hand.
10. Prohibition of alcohol, ban pork, ban pig products, ban self-dead animals and blood, sea cucumbers, crabs, and do not eat ginger and fishy things.
Uganda
One-third of Catholics and Protestants each believe in, one-fifth believe in primitive religions, and nearly 10% believe in Islam.
1. If you are invited to a local home, you must bring a gift to the host or hostess; unless specifically pointed out, the guest's wife is of course invited.
2. It is taboo to point to cattle and sheep and talk to them.
3. Taboo with left hand.
4. Taboo 13.
5. Kalamogas avoid others asking about the number of their cattle and sheep.
6. Islamists ban pork and pig products.
Ghana
Nearly half of the people believe in Christianity and Catholicism, nearly 40% believe in primitive religions and fetishism, and 12% believe in Islam.
1. Don't infringe on the little stool they each have.
2. Dislikes black, red and gray. Black symbolizes depression, devil, death and aging, red symbolizes grief, disaster, death and war, and gray symbolizes depression and shame.
3. If your left hand is unclean, do not use your left hand to make any gestures or pass on objects.
4. Taboo numbers 13, 17, and 71.
5. Be sure to show importance when accepting gifts.
6. Don't inquire about the location of the toilet.
Zambia
The vast majority of people believe in Christianity, and most rural people believe in primitive religions.
1. Taboo 13.
2. Avoid others walking behind you.
3. Avoid others pointing their fingers at you and making irresponsible remarks.
4. It is taboo for someone to treat them with a fist and waving their arms.
5. To greet Zambians, use honorific terms, preferably add the other person's job title.
6. Don't give expensive gifts to government officials and state-owned company employees. A small gift with the company's logo is a good choice.
7. Be sure to take the initiative to ask for food when eating, otherwise the owner will think that he is not enthusiastic enough.
8. Avoid talking about the shortage of goods in local shops, and don't discuss issues such as local politics and the efficiency of their countries 'affairs.
Kenya
45% believe in Protestantism, 33% believe in Catholic, 10% believe in Islam, and the rest believe in primitive religions and Hinduism. Avoid talking about local politics and the 1950s Mau Mau Movement (the armed struggle movement of the Kenyan people against British colonists in the 1950s).
Sudan
The vast majority believe in Islam, and a small number believe in traditional religions.
1. Avoid passing things with your left hand.
2. It is taboo for someone to casually talk, shake hands or touch women in their country.
3. Avoid using dogs as trademarks.
4. Muslims abstain from pork, pig products, do not eat strange food, and do not drink alcohol; they do not eat seafood, shrimp and animal offal, and do not like to eat red stewed dishes with juice.
5. The Beijia people do not even eat fish and eggs; guests on the West Route respect snakes as gods and often persuade others to respect snakes as well.
Morocco
Believing in Islam.
1. When you go to a Morocco person's home, you must take the initiative to take off your shoes, and you can only put on your shoes when you enter the mosque unless you allow them to go to the house; you must take off your shoes when you enter the mosque.
2. Avoid white.
3. Avoid hexagonal stars and owl patterns.
4. Don't praise an item from the owner.
5. No drinking.
6. Women do not eat eggs.
7. Taboo 13.
8. Avoid pork, ban pig products, and don't like red stewed dishes with juice.
Libya
Believing in Islam.
1. Strictly prohibit alcohol.
2. Avoid eating pork and pig products; do not like spicy food and seafood.
3. Avoid passing goods and food with your left hand.
4. It is taboo to bring gifts to the hostess and greet the female family when visiting local people's homes.
5. Women are prohibited from wearing miniskirts, and men do not leave long hair.
6. Black is taboo.
7. Taboo dogs.
8. Cats, pigs, and female human bodies are all taboo patterns.
9. Avoid politics and other controversial topics.
Tunisia
The main population is Arabs, Islam is the state religion, and a minority believe in Catholicism.
1. Taboo pigs, dogs, and cats.
2. Taboo with left hand.
3. Ban pork, ban pig products, avoid talking about all topics related to pigs, and extremely disgusted with the image of pigs and the patterns related to pigs.
4. Prohibition of alcohol and gifts and alcohol are taboo.
5. Avoid giving gifts for the first time.
6. Avoid others asking about your salary and income.
7. The OK gesture of index finger and thumb forming a circle is popular in Europe and the United States, but in Tunisia it means hostility to the other party.
8. Taboo 13.
9. Taboo saying that your products are too expensive.
10. I don't like red stewed dishes with juice, and I'm not used to dishes that are not ripe.
Madagascar
Half believe in traditional religions, 41% believe in Christianity (Catholic and Protestant), and 7% believe in Islam. I don't like black, I like bright colors.
Sierra Leone
60% of the residents believe in Islam, 30% believe in Christianity, and 10% believe in fetishism. Avoid black.
Mauritania
Islam is the state religion.
1. Camel milk will be served when welcoming distinguished guests, so you must take a sip.
2. Taboo kissing in public.
3. Avoid passing things with your left hand.
4. It is taboo for someone to scatter food on the ground.