DINNER IN THE EAST!!

(CHINESE DINNING ETIQUETTE – HISTORY, PHILOSOPHY AND ART.)

What a great leap it may be for many people, especially many Africans when they ought to sit on the Asian table. Being used to the natural SPOON method, as in the rapidity of using the fingers for almost everything in one`s bowl...banku, rice balls, plantain and beans... it may be cumbersome to observe the rigid and somewhat careful dexterity demanded in transporting a morsel of food from plate to mouth by means of chopsticks... But even then, the use of chopsticks is just an aspect of Chinese dining. Thus, as more and more Chinese restaurants spring up in African countries, there is the need to know more about Chinese Dinning Etiquette and to learn what it entails to have a meal with the Chinese or in China or simply in a Chinese restaurant, since it embodies more than meets the eye...its HISTORY, PHILOSOPHY AND ART !!

DINNER IN THE EAST!!

Dining, in China, has always been regarded as a matter of importance. The vast choice of Chinese cuisines has compelled people to pay more attention to the finer details of dining, upholding customs, and  building social ties, which bring about such distinctive etiquettes of Chinese dining. Dating back to the Zhou dynasty, a set of well established etiquette system for dining came into being. After its propagation and exaltation by Confucius, it became one of the most important ways for Chinese Imperial Courts to show the greatness of the Chinese. These Dining etiquettes have in the course of time been perfected, forming part of the Chinese way of life.

In China, dining is more than just a way of satisfying one`s appetite but the most important means of social interactions. So, the things that are worth noting include,

·        THE ROUND DINING TABLE, which is notably different from Dining tables in the West which are mostly square. Square tables are not suited to Chinese Cuisine with its soups and sauces. Thus, when you walk into Chinese restaurants, you`ll find most of 

      the tables are round. Round tables allow all of the diners to focus at the center of the table, which makes it more convenient for  friends to chat with each other. Moreover, all the diners could share the food easily from the same distances, which makes a more lively atmosphere.

·         PRINCIPLES OF HOST AND GUEST:  The ancient Chinese proverb " Without a pair of compasses and a T-square, you can`t draw a circle and a square properly" gave rise to the phrase "rules and regulations", which governs the procedure for hosting and attending a Chinese banquet or dinner. Since Ancient times and even up to date, it is almost imperative (depending also on the nature of the banquet) for a host to invite his guests with a written invitation. He then waits for their arrival at the door on the day. When the guests arrive, both sides exchange greetings before the host leads the guests to the table. When the guests are seated, the host proposes a toast to the guests to start the dinner; the guests then thank the host in the same manner.

 Again, do keep in mind the seating arrangement of the host and guests. The most venerable person or the host is usually seated at the place of honor which is central seat farthest from the door. The seat facing the honor place of the table is reserved for the second host. Others will take their seat in turn. However be patient and observant as the host may assign each guest to a seat. By allocating seats, the seating arrangements may be of a sort which shows the status of those present.

ATTENTION!  In a formal dinner, it is customary for the host to pick up Chopsticks first to start the dinner. Also, a pair of serving chopsticks should always be used for giving out food at a meal.

·        MEALS HAVE MEANING.   On a Chinese dining table, the delicious dishes exceed your expectations: What is true of etiquette is no less true of how dishes are served in China- cold dishes are served as appetizers at the beginning, then a few vegetarian or meat dishes are served with plain rice, after that a delicious soup is served. Finally, some refreshing desserts. The courses are arranged and served logically: They are also well balanced, with sweet and savory tastes all catered for.

The five thousand years of Chinese history can be appreciated at the dining table. For instance, there are dishes called "Braised Dongpo Pork hock", "Kung Pao chicken" and "Lamp shadow beef" and all these names have their respective historical meanings. There is even a soup called "Pearl, Jadeite and White jade soup" a name given by Zhu Yuanzhang, the first Emperor of the Ming Dynasty to a soup made of leftover rice, green vegetables and Tofu. Such traditional and poetic names of the dishes give you a sense of history at a dining table. So, the next time you taste a traditional Chinese meal, you may want to ask for the name and the history behind the meal if there is any.

·        RESPECT THE CUSTOMS!   There are also interesting dining customs that are observed. For instance Chinese people do not start a meal when there are only three or seven dishes served, because in ancient times, the condemned criminals usually had three dishes before their execution, and similarly a funeral banquet usually had seven dishes.

Even today, some traditional coastal people still believe that when one side of a fish has been finished, the other side must not be damaged while it is turned over. Otherwise, it has the connotation that their boats will capsize.

On the whole, some of these table demands and 

etiquette may seem strict and unfamiliar to any foreigner but with time we learn, we adjust and we appreciate, for these are the tiny bits that makes dining in China or with Chinese people interesting. The presence of traditional customs on the Chinese dinner table is in fact more important "seasoning" than ginger, garlic or scallion, and you only need a little to bring out the true flavor of Chinese dining!!!

AfriqAsia Merge....

                              .......Bridging the gap,  embracing the difference.

COAL POT LOVE

I sat on the floor,

My bare fingers in the coal,

My nose close to the coal,

My lips blowing relentlessly

At the dimming flash of light

My fan flapping helplessly 

To keep the glitter of fire bright

 Mine was coal pot love.

So, there I sat on the floor

My wrist hurting with every flap

My knees against the dirty ground

Rubbing in the ashes all around

Till at last I heard a sound,

The crackling sound of fire!

Fire gathering under my coal!!!

                     Mine was coal pot love.

The fight took a lot of time,

It took a lot of energy

It cost me a goldmine

It cost me scars and bruises

But I knew it wasn`t just a fantasy

It was to me the only reality.

So when the flames danced

Amidst the blazing coals

I smiled…

               …..Mine was coal pot love!

And then came the rest,

From the East and from the West

From the south and from the north,

Tell us, tell us what`s in that pot?

They did not know how I had toiled

To get the flame under my pot

And keep it burning all along

Look, Oh my!  The weirdest thing,

Such a pot we`ve never seen…

And come and see the soup she cooks

The sight alone will make you sick!

So before my soup is ready

Everyone is busily complaining

The soup is sour, the soup is bitter

Huh, the smell and oh the colour

Quench the fire and go to bed

What you`re cooking`s not worth the sweat.

But then I fan even harder,

And I blow even faster,

My fire is ablaze and I won`t let it die

For mine is coal pot love!

I did suffer to get it lit, but

Now the flames are high, the wind`s an ally!

So blow from the East and blow from the West,
Come what may my flames will stay
Cos i`ll watch over it to keep it alive

No matter what it may take.

Yes, falling in love with you,

Dreaming of you and following you…

Has been to many the craziest thing to do

An African with an Asian dream!

An African in love with the Asian!

An African on an Asian path!

To them it’s impossible

But to me, it`s my coal pot love,

And I’ll fan till the flames rise high above

For on these flames will simmer

The tastiest soup the world will savour!!!

To all those who have a coal pot love, fan it till the flames rise high !

AfriqAsia Merge….

                               …..bridging the gap,

                                                       Embracing the difference!!!

ETHIOPIA AND CHINA – TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN.

Ethiopia and China have long histories. Ethiopia is an ancient Country, which has a written history exceeding 3,000 years. Ethiopia, like China fought, and repulsed various colonist powers. In fact, Ethiopia is one of the few African countries not colonized. Ethiopia is also considered a beacon of freedom by many Africans.

Like China, Ethiopia is endowed with immense and beautiful resources. A land of diverse geographical settings, Ethiopia has a rich variety of wildlife. It has abundant water and rich mineral resources, although they have not yet been fully exploited. 

Ethiopia is also known for its many historic attractions, including the Axum Obelisks, stone monoliths erected in the ancient Axumite period, the churches of Lalibela, rock-hewn churches known for their astonishing designs and interior decorations, and the 17^th century Castles of Gondar.  

As China`s Great wall, among other things symbolizes China`s history and civilisation, the above mentioned Ethiopian edifices are associated with Ethiopia`s history and civilisation.

Talking about civilizations, Ethiopia is the home of “Lucy”, one of the oldest hominid skeletons found in Ethiopia. Some scientists, because of that find, now believe Africa might have been the origin of humankind.

Both Ethiopia and China attach importance to the development of agriculture, and to the well-being of their ruralareas. In fact, while China has the world`s largest population, Ethiopia has the second-largest population in sub-Saharan Africa. Like the Chinese, Ethiopians are known for their hard work and diligence. Many people agree, given its rich resources, hard-working people and big market, Ethiopia is suitable for investment.

The pace of China`s economic transformation over the past two decades has impressed me. One can see the infrastructure development, the increase in Chinese resident`s living standards and, in general, the prosperity. I have also witnessed as Chinese women have become major players in this transformation. I consider myself fortunate to have been able to witness some of these changes. I believe many developing countries, including Ethiopia, should learn from China`s experiences in various fields. 

To sum it up, China has been a great experience for me, not only in terms of my personal and academic growth, but also what it means to my family. One of my four children was born here, and china will always hold special memories. China might be geographically distant from Ethiopia, but it sure is my home away from home.

   
    (Tsehay IQUBAY)

    Wife of the Ambassador of Ethiopia to China.

     From: Enjoying Every day with China by HeQiuju.

     AfriqAsia Merge…

                              ….Bridging the gap, embracing the difference

FROM KAFUI TO WANG YING

Kafui Ayetor Agbetor, proud seed of the Volta Kingdom

Mighty root of an unshakeable oak tree

Remnant of an undefeated lineage,

I have come a long way!

I have wrestled I have fought,

 I have seen cities crumble, at the tip of my sword.

A million times have my hands been raised at the Market square,

As a mighty wrestler of untamed lions…

Unprecedented owner of a hundred and one medallions

Makafui Ayetor Agbetor! The hard nut the sages could not crack!!

But little did I know that I was a caged man.

Caged in my own mentality about the Asian!

 Bound by the lie that that Africa has nothing to do with Asia.

 That Asia was a strange place for an African...

  My mind was a a rusty, leaking roof,

     A dilapidated summer hut,

                                                                        That needed renovation...

Wang Ying,

You brought into my life the refreshing touch of revolution,

You are to me, that spice of variety

That cannot be found on the Anlo market.

 Just a “Ni hao”, just a “Ni hao”, you said

 And my whole mind was tuned

onto a world of awesome possibilities !

Wang Ying,

You gave me back the sight

That I had obviously lost

From wearing the mask of self-pride and pomposity.

 I thought I had seen it all,

Till I climbed the Great Wall of China,

Till i saw you sitting elegantly in your "Qipao"

Then I realised

That Asia was indeed beautiful, adorable,

And that the greatest battle a man could fight

Was within the confines of his own mind,

The greatest proof of a man’s strength 

Is seen in the barriers he breaks in his mind.

So Wang Ying, speak to me again in your “Putong hua”,

That language is melody in my ears

And I will respond in Ewe, “Akpe, Akpe Akpe!”

Sing to me your “Tian mi mi…”

And I will respond in Ewe, “Me lo wo, Me lo wo, Me lo wo ”.

Come with me home,

Let me show you to Efo,

And tell the whole of Eweland that these crescent eyes

Taught me to step into the unknown,

That the magical calmness of the Yangtze river,

Taught me to embrace a different world,

And to find what the ordinary man cannot find.

Wang Ying…

                 .....You are my greatest medallion, my profound discovery.

AfriqAsia GLOSSARY

• Kafui       -    An Ewe name meaning "Praise Him"
• Wang        -    A very popular Chinese surname, also a title in Chinese nobility.
• Ying          -    A unisex name meaning Eagle, crystal or victorious.
• Anlo          -   A subgroup of the Ewe people inhabiting South Eastern parts of the Volta region of                             Ghana, southern Togo and southern Benin.
• Ni hao        -  "Hello" in Chinese.
• Qipao         -   Traditional Chinese women`s outfit
• Putonghua   -   Mandarin Chinese, a standardised variety of Chinese., official language of the People`s                         Republic of China.
• Akpe           -   "Thank you" in Ewe.
• Tian mi mi    -    "Your sweet smile" A popular Chinese song by Teresa Teng. 
• Me lo wo      -    I love you in Ewe.
• Efo               -    Title in Ewe meaning Uncle. Father.
• Yangtze river -   Longest river in Asia, and third longest in the world.

DRESS CODE AFRIQASIA (THE STORIES BEHIND THE CLOTHES)

Clothing speaks louder than words!

All through the centuries, clothing continues to be a form of social expression.  It constitutes an in-depth way of expressing one`s self-identity, origin and social status.  Thus, in most places of the world, particular groups, tribes, and societies, can be identified by a certain type of attire which normally  explains parts of their history, epitomizes their beliefs and even represents what they stand for.  Over time, certain clothes have attained a national or even continental status and appeal which makes them not only identifiable with a group of people, but with a whole nation and continent! Two forms of clothing that have thus transcended the threshold of group and class identification, unto a larger, more national and continental platform, are the Kente cloth of Africa, and the Qipao of Asia.

AS THE ASIANS MAY ASK,

What is Kente cloth?

Kente cloth, known as nwentoma (woven cloth), in Akan is a type of silk and cotton fabric made of interwoven cloth strips and is native to the Akan ethnic  group of South

Ghana.

Kente is predominantly made in Akan lands such as Ashanti Kingdom, (Bonwire, Adanwomase, Wonoo in the Kwabre areas of the Ashanti Region).It is also produced in Ivory Coast and worn by many other groups who have been influenced by Akans. It is the best known of all African textiles. Kente comes from the word kenten, which means basket in Akan dialect, Asante.

How  did the Kente cloth come about?

Legend has it that kente was first made by two Akan friends who went hunting in an Asante forest and found a spider making its web.The two friends stood and watched the spider for two days then returned home and implemented what they had seen.

It therefore  has its origin in the Ashanti Kingdom, and was later adopted by people in Ivory Coast and many other West African countries. West Africa has had a cloth weaving culture for centuries via the stripweave method, but the Akan history tells of the Kente  cloth being created independent of any outsider influence.

 What does the Kente cloth look like?

As the icon of African cultural heritage around the world, Akan kente is identified by its dazzling, multicolored patterns of bright colors, geometric shapes, and bold designs. The Akan people choose these  kente cloths as much for their names as their colors and patterns. They are also identified primarily by the patterns found in the lengthwise (warp) threads. For instance, Kente characterized by weft designs woven into every available block of plain weave is called adweneasa. However, there is often little correlation between appearance and name. That is, names are derived from several sources, including proverbs, historical events, important chiefs, queen mothers, and plants.

 When is a Kente cloth  worn?

The Kente  as an Akan royal and sacred cloth was worn only in times of extreme importance and was the cloth of kings. Over time, the use of kente became more widespread. However, its importance has remained and is held in high esteem by Akans and Africans as a whole. 

It can be worn on any festive occasion, marriage ceremonies, both national and traditional festivals, international conferences and programs and many more.

AS THE AFRICANS MAY ASK:

What is a Qipao?

The qípáo ((旗袍) pronounced "cheepaaw" in mandarin Chinese), and known in English as a mandarin gown is a body-hugging one-piece Chinese dress for women. It may also be known as the cheongsam. 

The stylish and often tight-fitting cheongsam or qípáo that 
is most often associated with today`s Asian woman was created in the 1920s in Shanghai and was made fashionable by high social status personalities and upper class women. The male version is the changshan. They have been worn since the Manchu ruled China in the 17th century.

How did the Qipao come about?

  During Manchu rule, Nurhachi (努爾哈赤) , a chieftan, established the Banner System, a structure for organizing all Manchu families into administrative divisions. The traditional dress that Manchu women wore became known as the qipao (旗袍, banner gown).

After 1636, all Han Chinese men in the banner system had to wear the male version of the qipao, chángpáo (長袍) or Changshan .  In the 1920s in Shanghai, the dress was modernized and became popular among celebrities and the upper class. The dress became less popular when Communist rule began in 1949. The Shanghainese took the dress to Hong Kong where it remained popular in the 1950s, amongst  working women who often paired it with a jacket.

 What does the Qipao look like?  

The original qipao was wide and 

 baggy.  The one-piece dress featured a high neck and straight skirt.

It covered all of a woman’s body except for her head, hands, and toes. The qipao was traditionally made of silk and featured intricate embroidery.

The qipao worn today are modeled after ones made in Shanghai in the 1920s. 

 The modern qipao is a one-piece, formfitting, floor length dress that has a high slit on one or both sides. Modern variations may have bell sleeves or be sleeveless and are made out of a variety of fabrics.

When is a Qipao worn?

In the 17th century, the qipao was worn nearly every day. Nowadays, the qipao is worn during formal occasions like weddings, parties, and beauty pageants. The qipao is also used as a uniform at restaurants, hotels, and on airplanes in Asia. 

AfriqAsia Merge

                        .....Bridging the gap

                                                  ....Embracing the difference.