Chic African Culture Africa Factbook

Did you know?

1. No African country names begin with the letters F, H, I, J, O, P, Q, V, W, X, or Y.

2. Africa is surrounded by water but by definition Africa is not an island because Africa is a continent.

3. The Republic of the Congo is one of the most urbanized countries in Africa.

Being Left Handed in Africa

Left Hand in Africa the forbidden left hand. Throughout most of Africa, no matter the observance, the left hand is associated with disrespect and bad manners.

Woman carrying water in Mali Africa 1983
A woman carrying water in Mali Africa 1983

About Being Left Handed in Africa.


Explore and Understand Africa Through Her Food and Culture.

Left handed people make up about 11 percent of the population in Africa.

The preferred use of the left hand to the right is not an issue of preference or habit throughout most of Africa. The left hand is associated with disrespect and bad manners in many African cultures.

How did the left hand receives such a bad reputation in African culture? It is the hand used to perform tasks that are dirty and unclean, the hand used for personal hygiene.

Avoid taking or passing anything with your left hand such as a present, extending your hand for a handshake or eating that scrumptious platter of groundnut soup and fufu. In Southern Africa, it is considered polite to receive a gift with the right hand.


Throughout most of Africa, no matter the religious observance, the left hand is associated with disrespect and bad manners.
In Africa avoid taking or passing anything with your left hand


Things are to be handled or passed with the right or both hands, but never the left hand, as this is considered the unclean hand no matter the religious observance. Lack of knowledge about social customs within African cultures can make even the best-intentioned person seem rude.

Some women do not shake hands and merely nod their head, so it is best to wait for a woman to extend her hand.

Using your right hand is a social custom to follow not only when visiting Africa but also when meeting and greeting on business and socially in your corner of the world. Expectations of cultural etiquette depend upon the ethnic heritage of the person you are meeting.

Cultural understanding and cultural awareness is a vital part of international communication, knowing using the left hand is considered rude in African cultures are just the beginning of positive nonverbal communication. Actions speak louder than words, especially if there is a barrier between languages.


Did you know?
People who are left-handed are at greater risk of psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, according to a 2013 Yale University study. In Africa the left hand is associated with disrespect and bad manners in many African cultures. The left hand performs tasks that are dirty and unclean.

Africa is surrounded by water but is not an island, here are a few African Island facts.

Madagascar is the 4th large island in the world and is located in the Indian Ocean supporting a unique biology, about 90% of its plants and animals are found nowhere else on earth.

Composed of 155 islands, Seychelles is Africa's smallest country. By far the largest island is Mahe, home to about 90% of the population and the site of its capital city of Victoria.

Cabo Verde has a strategic location 310 miles or 500 km from the west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site.

Africa is surrounded by water but by definition Africa is not an island because Africa is a continent. Continents can not be considered islands because of their size and also by historic definition since many people who study geography define islands and continents as two different things.

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African cultures express, encourage, and communicate energy

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Being African in America I have grown up learning about different ethnic cultures. My father and mother are historians of African culture and history and their influence expanded my activities to several best-selling cookbooks, magazine columns, self-branded products, and a popular African culture and food blog.

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