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Cooking
Do's & Don'ts
Greetings & Etiquette |
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 When a typical Gambian family sits down to eat they do so around a
communal bowl which has a mound of rice which might have a sauce on
top or mixed rice like Benachin (Jollof Rice) with vegetables in the
centre. It is then placed on a mat (basang). As an honoured guest you
may sometimes be given your own bowl or plate of food to eat depending
on the circumstances. Don't be surprised if you are visiting a family
and find them eating and be called over to join them for a meal. This
is normal food etiquette in Gambia.
The first rule about eating food round a communal bowl is to first wash both your hands then take off your shoes before sitting
down on the mat. Indeed shoe removal should be done when entering any
family room or hallway. You may be offered a short stool to sit on.
In strict religiously families, particularly up-country and with
the Mandinka tribe, women
and and men eat separately while the kids go to either
bowl.
Do not start eating until you see your hosts
begin eating and they will usually say the Arabic word "Bismillah"
which is an idiom meaning "In the Name of Allah". Only
use
your right-hand for eating. If you do choose to eat with a family in
this way you shape the rice into an almost egg-shape before eating it. You
may be given a spoon however, the above procedure should still be
followed. Keep your hands to your section of the bowl i.e. the part directly in front of you
which is about 10 - 15 cm wide. Don't be afraid to ask for a
spoon if you don't think you can handle it because as a guest they are
only too pleased to offer you a spoon. However, at intervals you may go
to the near centre of the bowl to cut a piece of meat or vegetable to
bring back to your section and mix it with some rice before putting it in your mouth. Do
not eat any food directly from the centre. Don't be surprised if people beat
you to it and cut it for you and put it in your section.
On a
word of caution it is the
height of bad manners in Gambian society to smell food in front of
others before eating it. Furthermore even if you are not hungry it is seen as rude to decline a
meal so at least try and take a couple of mouthfuls eating it slowly.
However, should you decide not to eat do not watch others eating; you
should move away somewhere else until the others are ready with their
meal. When eating keep conversation down to the minimum but
do mention how delicious the meal is.
Any food that leaves the bowl and into your mouth or falls onto the
food mat should be left there. You can request for and drink water
while eating. Though it sounds odd to westerners a quiet but audible belch after a meal is considered polite as it shows you have
enjoyed the food and have eaten to your satisfaction.
If you have finished your meal you should get straight up and go wash
your hands and do not return to the
communal bowl for a chat. If you are an adult then you should try by
all means and get up before the children. Wash your hands with soap
and water. When all are finished you may again compliment your hosts
on how delicious the meal was.
While in Gambia you
will see some of the above rules being broken but the washing and
right-hand rules must be adhered to. If you find yourself eating alone and somebody you
know approaches you it is good manners to tell them "come and join
me". Please not that the above rules are for lunch and sometimes
dinner. Breakfast however, tends to be a sole activity normally involving bread
though do offer to share if you are in the company of others.
The usual phrase people use when they are calling you to lunch is "Ky
Len Nu Ane" and for dinner it is "Ky Len Nu Rerr".
 
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