Learn what topics you should avoid during small talk in Kenya
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Intro |
|---|
| Antoni: What topics are taboo in Kenya? |
| Gertrude: And what are some things you should avoid doing? |
| Antoni: At SwahiliPod101.com, we hear these questions often. Imagine the following situation: Karen Lee and Julia Mogaka are chatting in a nice atmosphere while drinking coffee. Everything changes when Karen brings up a taboo topic. |
| "I want to be cremated when I die. " |
| Karen Lee: Nataka kuchomwa nitakapokufa. |
| Dialogue |
| Karen Lee: Nataka kuchomwa nitakapokufa. |
| Julia Mogaka: Wacha tuongee kuhusu jambo lingine. |
| Antoni: Once more with the English translation. |
| Karen Lee: Nataka kuchomwa nitakapokufa. |
| Antoni: "I want to be cremated when I die." |
| Julia Mogaka: Wacha tuongee kuhusu jambo lingine. |
| Antoni: "Let's talk about something else." |
Lesson focus |
| Antoni: Every culture can be quite superstitious to some degree, and the Kenyan people are no exception. Kenyans are generally friendly people. They are genuinely interested about what other people think and will gladly guide tourists around the places they want to go to when visiting the country. However, while Kenyans will do their best to make you feel comfortable during your visit, they will not hesitate to let you know if what you’re saying or doing is considered taboo, or |
| Gertrude: mwiko |
| Antoni: In this lesson, we'll discover what things are considered taboo in Kenyan culture and which customs you need to observe to avoid offending or embarrassing people. |
| [Recall 1] |
| Antoni: Let’s take a closer look at the dialogue. |
| Do you remember how Karen Lee says "I want to be cremated when I die?" |
| (pause 4 seconds) |
| Gertrude: Nataka kuchomwa nitakapokufa. |
| [Recall 2] |
| Antoni: Now let’s take a look at our second sentence. |
| Do you remember how Julia Mogaka answers with "Let's talk about something else?" |
| (pause 4 seconds) |
| Gertrude: Wacha tuongee kuhusu jambo lingine. |
| Antoni: There are several reasons that Julia suddenly became uncomfortable and suggested to change the topic when Karen started talking about dying and being cremated. First off, 10% of Kenyan people are Islam. In Islam, cremation, or |
| Gertrude: kuchoma moto, |
| Antoni: is strictly forbidden. In all cases, the dead should be buried within 24 hours. In addition, Kenyan tradition states that the dead should be transported back to their home village or ancestral home and buried there. A third reason why Kenyans consider the topic of death as a taboo has something to do with the African worldview of life and death, or |
| Gertrude: maisha na kifo |
| Antoni: In African tradition, life continues after death, so there is no reason to long for death, or talk about it, at all, since it is not that different from the experiences of those who are still living. Speaking of religion, or |
| Gertrude: dini, |
| Antoni: it is always better to not talk about the topic unless asked. Most importantly, avoid discussing religion. It's ok to share your beliefs when asked, but it's considered very impolite in Kenya to criticize someone else's beliefs. |
| [Summary] |
| Antoni: So far, you've learned about a couple of topics that you should avoid discussing with a Kenyan person. If you're not sure whether a topic is taboo or not, it's better not to bring up the topic at all. Alternatively, you can ask the person first whether they are comfortable discussing the subject or not. |
| Expansion/Contrast (Optional) |
| Antoni: Religion, death, sex — these are just some of the topics that are considered taboo in Kenya. Sex, in particular, is a major taboo in most African societies. Although sex education is slowly being introduced in African schools, a lot of Kenyans are still not comfortable talking about it. |
| Antoni: In terms of practices, there are many do’s and don’ts you should be aware of when visiting Kenya and other places in Africa. For instance, it is considered rude to lose one’s temper and get angry, or |
| Gertrude: hasira |
| Antoni: Kenyans are indirect communicators and would prefer to settle disputes using humor. That said, it is not unusual to see Kenyans smiling regardless of whether or not the topic is humorous. Another thing to watch out for is the way you dress. Kenyans are a conservative people and dress in a manner that emphasizes function over style. They take pride in appearing smart in the way they dress and lose respect for someone who dresses sloppily or wears clothes that are too revealing. However, it’s okay to wear t-shirts and shorts when visiting the Islamic regions near the coast. |
| Antoni: Finally, be careful when beckoning someone. In Kenyan culture, calling someone’s attention is done with the palm down and not up. Doing the opposite can unintentionally convey a rude or scornful gesture. |
| Cultural Insight/Expansion (Optional) |
| Antoni: One might think that taboos are quite absurd. While it’s true that some ritual prohibitions do not serve any practical purpose, in Kenya, taboos are meant to benefit all aspects of life. They influence human relationships, or |
| Gertrude: uhusiano, |
| Antoni: and are almost always accompanied by reason and belief, or |
| Gertrude: sababu na imani |
| Antoni: In Kenya and much of Africa, one function of taboos is the conservation of natural resources, or |
| Gertrude: maliasili |
| Antoni: They are employed as techniques to help conserve natural resources. For instance, Africans have formulated taboos specifically associated with plants and animals. With these taboos in place, trees, animals, and sacred sites remain protected. |
Outro |
| Antoni: Do you have any more questions? We’re here to answer them! |
| Gertrude: Nitakuona hivi karibuni! |
| Antoni: See you soon! |
| Credits: Gertrude (Swahili, Kenya), Antoni (English, synthetic voice) |
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