Hospitality in Nigerian Culture

Previously, I spoke about Nigerians having the tradition of not coming empty-handed to a visitor's house. They always try their best to come along with something, but this time around, in this article, I will be talking about the concept of hospitality from the angle of the host. A good cultural behaviour that is rooted in most Nigerian homes, which cuts across just doing it for the sake of appearance; rather, it is rooted in the form of culture of showing generosity and respect to whoever it may be that graces us with their presence in our humble abode. What I mean is Nigerians are hospitable. We take care of our guests.

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We tend to see our guests as a blessing in our home, which is why we tend to soften the mood or presence with some act of hospitality by asking questions like What will you eat or drink? And trust me, when I say this comes with food with immediate effect once the answer is given. It is also typical for the guest to be shy or display some form of composure in telling the host not to worry so much about that. But on the other hand, there are homes where such a generous offer cannot be refused. The offering is a part of the protocol to get the guest comfortable before the main course of the event is brought to light.

The beauty of such hospitality is the fact that it is not bound by wealth; rather, it is done as a form of sharing. It might not be a wealthy family, and all they might have at the moment is a tuber of yam with oil, yet they are still more than willing to share it. This form of hospitality in the Nigerian culture is best at work during the festive seasons. Either Christmas or Sallah; both of these festive seasons are the best time to experience the true warmth of Nigerian hospitality. I cannot account for the amount of food I have eaten during the festive seasons because of the number of people I know.

It is also nice to know that these kinds of acts help to foster a community bond among individuals. Imagine you visit a home where the household offered you food, water and a blanket to cover yourself while asleep. It would not be such a big deal if you return the favour when the reverse becomes the case. For me, acts of kindness like this are what make us special as humans. You do not have to worry so much about not being alone or not fitting in, but you have found a family that accepts you for who you are, no strings attached.

This gives an important lesson as well that luxury is not the only way to be welcoming, but the act of sharing is something that cuts across at any time and in any given situation. Keep it nice with people; you never can tell who's help you might need tomorrow. Then, in the aspect of fostering a community, it starts with one person, and when it is reciprocated, it becomes a pattern. From one person to another, we actually make the world a better place, so I think it is more than good to practice the Nigerian act of hospitality every once in a while.

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