African Congolese customs

Congo is a coastal country located in central and western Africa, spanning the Equator. It not only has a hot climate, rich rainfall, beautiful scenery, but also has a long history and ancient culture. Over the long historical years, Congo has gradually formed into a unique country with many customs and habits that are different from other African countries.

Congolese people are generous, outgoing, enthusiastic and polite. When Congolese people see foreign guests, they always appear polite. They first greet them warmly, then shake hands, and some even hug and kiss to imply friendly feelings. When Congolese people talk with guests, they are accustomed to making various movements with their hands or heads to set off the meaning expressed in their own language and thus deepen the emotional exchange between the host and guest. If foreign guests can be familiar with and grasp some local actions to deepen emotional exchanges, even if they do not understand the local national language, they can still conduct simple ideological communication and exchanges with local people and express sincere greetings to local friends when meeting.

There are mainly the following actions that Congolese people often use when seeing foreign guests: Gesture greetings: Raise both hands to be level with their shoulders, flip the palms and palms back and forth, or raise their right hand to be level with their shoulders, and gently shake it back and forth, which is a reminder of greetings to the guests they meet for the first time; when seeing loved relatives and friends who have been reunited for a long time, they keep gently tapping the other's palms with their right hand, which is a reminder of deep feelings and closeness.

Wave greetings: Raise your right hand, clench it into a fist, extend your thumb, and wave it constantly. This is a hint of great respect for guests. It is usually used to imply a tribute to those who are pregnant and have status. Raise your hands and salute: When you see the guest, your body is upright, your feet are close together, your abdomen is abdomen and chest out, raise your right hand, palm outward, your left hand hangs down, close to the seam of your pants, and shout "Masd" means host), is the highest greeting etiquette that implies respecting your guests.

Shake your fists to add fun: When talking to guests, stretch out your hands, clench them into fists, and shake them back and forth, which indicates that you are very interested in the topic you are talking about. Say good with your fingers: Use your thumb, index finger and middle finger to make a rhythmic "da, da" sound while talking, which suggests that the conversation is very speculative and that what the guests are talking about is great.

Shaking your head in praise: Gently shaking your head up and down is a sign of praise that suggests you are extremely surprised by the guest's conversation. Congolese people are hospitable and hospitable. After chatting with foreign guests for a few words, they regard them as friends or even brothers. They cordially invite them to their homes and use all the hospitality they have in their homes. When guests enter the door, they are first served with coffee, tea, mineral water, fruits, etc. After a warm conversation, they are invited to sit down and taste traditional dishes.

The staple foods of the Congolese people include rice, corn, barley, cassava and various beans; the non-staple foods include pork, beef, mutton, chicken, fish, potatoes, vegetables, etc. The main staple foods commonly used to entertain guests include: rice with gravy, rice fried with eggs, tapioca steamed buns, tapioca steamed cakes and various sweets. The production process of cassava steamed buns is roughly as follows: first, soak the cassava in water for several days, peel and dry, grind it into fine powder, add flour, add water to stir, knead it into a ball, and steam it over fire to make the steamed buns. Cassava steamed buns are white and soft, and have a fresh taste. Cassava steamed cake is made by mixing tapioca flour with water, wrapping it into a ball or strip shape with banana leaves, and putting it in boiling water to cook. It has a unique taste. The main non-staple foods used to entertain guests include: fried pork steaks, curry beef, kebabs of mutton, clear stewed whole chicken, braised fish nuggets, fish-flavored shredded pork, roasted pork with potatoes, etc. These dishes look rich in taste, moderately sweet and spicy, burnt and refreshing, and foreign guests will leave unforgettable memories after eating them.

Congo is rich in peanuts, and the owner often uses "peanut bread" to entertain guests from afar. The process of making peanut bread is generally as follows: Mash peanuts into powder, add a little flour, sugar, etc., mix well with water, add appropriate amount of baking powder while mixing, knead into a ball or strip, and steam it in a cage. The "peanut bread" is yellow, soft, sweet and fragrant, which greatly increases the appetite of the guests. Congolese people also like to mix banana puree, peanut powder, tapioca flour, brown tung oil, chili paste and refined salt and boil them with water to make a thick paste. This food called "Yuuma" is both a staple food and a dish. It is a common food for entertaining guests. Some people also like to mix rice flour and bean flour with water, add banana paste, then wrap it into dough with banana leaves, put it in a steamer and steam it into powder, making it into first-class food for guests. Others add milk to banana puree, freeze it and make banana jelly. It is cool and refreshing. It is both a staple food, a world custom network, and a cold food, and is very popular among guests. Congolese people also often use local game food to entertain guests. For example, local rhubarb ants are captured and made into a nutritious and delicious ant paste. It is used to mix monkey meat and eat it. The flavor is unique. Many outsiders have eaten it before. I'm afraid it has never been rumored. Banana wine made by Congolese people is fragrant and has a special taste. It is the top grade among guest drinks.

Visiting local friends is an indispensable task and a common activity when carrying out economic and trade activities in Congo. When you are in a foreign country, you can explore market business and visit local friends. It is difficult to distinguish whether it is a business visit, a courtesy visit, or a private visit, but you must pay attention to choosing the time and place of the visit. One of the basic principles to grasp should be: If it is purely business, try to go to the other party's office, and if it is romantic, it is best to go to the other party's home; if you choose to visit the office, you should try to avoid Monday, because this day may be the other party's busiest day; If you plan to visit the other party's home, it is best to choose the night before the holiday, because this time may be the time when the other party is in the best mood. Whether you are visiting the office or home, you should inform the other party in advance of the purpose and time of the visit by writing, making phone calls or sending a message. On the one hand, you can avoid being rejected at the time, and on the other hand, you can make the other party difficult to prepare and make arrangements in advance. The tone of appointment should be friendly and consultative, and the language of expression should be sincere and requesting. Adopting an imperative tone and demanding language will inevitably lead to obstacles.