The Food Bowl:
Refers to the large bowl of food shared by Gambians at meal times
(usually at lunchtime),
accompanied by a set of table manners you might be considered rude for
disobeying. Though toubabs are most often handed a spoon and chair,
Gambians squat around their food bowl and eat with their right
hand—and only their right hand, as the left hand is used for rather
unclean purposes. You are encouraged to eat the Gambian way, as long
as you wash your hands first like everyone else. The method of eating
takes practice—grabbing a handful of rice, closing your palm to
squeeze it into a ball, and then letting it fall forward towards your
fingers to lift it towards an open mouth. When you are called to eat
someone might say let us come and "chop".
Never do a full scale finger licking until the meal is complete.
Also, you should attempt to eat only from section of the bowl
that is in front of you, as it is rather impolite to eat from
another’s portion. If you want to take a piece of meat or fish
from the centre of the bowl, break it off with your fingers and
set it down in front of you first—never pop it directly into
your mouth. Most often, the host will break the meat or fish for
you and distribute it evenly. With food bowls, first come, first
serve—if you wait too long for the food to be comfortably cool
to handle, you are likely to miss out on the chow. Conversation
is usually kept to a minimum while eating.
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Communal eating bowls are usually made from
decorated or plain enameled metal which are about 1.5 feet across. |
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