African Friends and Money Matters, Second Edition

Observations from Africa

David E Maranz

• Publisher: SIL International
• Year: 2016
• ISBN:
  9781556713644
• Edition: 2
• Topic: Sozialwissenschaften
• Subtopic: Kultur- & Sozialanthropologie

African Friends and Money Matters grew out of frustrations that Westerners experience when they travel and work in Africa. Africans have just as many frustrations relating to Westerners in their midst. Each manages money, time, and relationships in very different ways, often creating friction and misunderstanding.

African Friends and Money Matters

Observations from Africa

Second Edition

SIL International®

Publications in Ethnography 43

Publications in Ethnography (formerly International Museum of Cultures Series) is a series published jointly by SIL International and the International Museum of Cultures. The series focuses on cultural studies of minority peoples of various parts of the world. While most volumes are authored by members of SIL International who have done ethnological research in a minority language, suitable works by others will also occasionally form part of the series.

Series Editor

Mike Cahill

Volume Editor

Dirk Kievit

Managing Editor

Bonnie Brown

Compositor

Lois Gourley

Contributing Artists

Côme Mbringa

Mbanji Bawe Ernest

Momar Touré, Cover Illustration

Cover Design

Barbara Alber

African Friends and Money Matters

Observations from Africa

Second Edition

David E. Maranz

SIL International®

Dallas, Texas

© 2015 by SIL International®

Library of Congress Catalog No: 2015948502

eISBN: 978-1-55671-364-4

ISSN: 0-0895-9897

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Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Interpersonal Behavior

Introduction to African society

Greetings and conversation

Introductions

Conversation topics

Formality

Names and titles

Social space

Social distance

Power distance

Stratification

Respect

Respect for age

Respect and children

Public anger

Hierarchy

Giving and receiving

Diffuse roles

Blame

Separation anxiety

Competition

Appreciation

Generosity

Asking

Giving gifts

Unsolicited “services”

Men vs. women

Everyday Africa

Introduction

Friendliness

Elite society

Clientelism and dependency

Dress

Concrete vs. abstract thought

Decision-making

Time

Punctuality

Past vs. future

Monochronic vs. polychronic

Public sounds

Lodging

Sharing and hospitality

Hospitality

Meal etiquette

Use of Resources

General practices

The social use of resources

The role of recipients

Budgeting and accounting

Other patterns of resource use

Summary: Use of resources

Friendship

Networks

Etiquette

Summary: friendship

The Role of Solidarity

Sharing resources

Effects of solidarity

Summary: the role of solidarity

Society and People of Means

People of means

Practicing the system

Summary: society and people of means

Loans and Debts

Debt and funding strategies

Repayment of loans

Summary: loans and debts

Business Matters

Introduction

Role of relationships

Negotiating

Business strategies

Handling problems

The voice of experience

Summary: business matters

Toward a Conclusion

Acknowledgements

I have benefited from the suggestions, comments, and experiences of many people. They have all been either Africans or expatriates who have spent years working or living in Africa.

Fred West heads the list as it was first his idea to ask me to talk about my experiences—something I had not thought of doing. After him, the history is hard and tortuous, as is often the case during the gestation of a book. Discussions with individuals and groups, and more life experiences in Africa, fattened the file until it turned into this book. Hence, extensive and varied contributions from many people have provided valuable material and comments. I would like to thank all these friends and colleagues who have collectively made this book possible. It could not have been written by me alone. In the final analysis, of course, I was the one who put all these contributions together, so any blame for misrepresenting Africa or Western viewpoints falls on me. I do trust, however, that the book contains no misrepresentations.

In the space available I can thank certain friends who have been involved. Those who made substantial contributions or reviewed the text at various points include the following (in alphabetical order): Elinor Abbott, Grace Adjekum, Kwashie Amenudzie, Victor Azelenkor, Jules Badji, Pierre Boly, Oumar Diallo, Viking Dietrich, Mandé Diop, Joseph Diouf, Marilyn Escher, the late Djibril Fall, the late Mbengue Fall, Salifou Fall, George Foryoh, Yatta Foryoh, Karl Franklin, Glenn Gero, Fritz Goerling, Stephen Graham, Mafatim Guèye, Irene Haibucher, June Hathersmith, Marian Hungerford, Jim Leonard, the late Karen Lewis, Steven Maranz, Eddie Mungai, Emmanuel Njock, Stephen Payne, Clinton Robinson, Richard Shawyer, Duane Troyer, Bert Visser, Katy Wienecke, Gordon Williams, and Sara Williams.

John Watters, Africa Area Director of SIL International during much of the period in which the research and writing of the book took place, provided invaluable encouragement. Some early versions or excerpts were sent to colleagues in several countries from Senegal to Kenya, who used the materials in various seminars, courses, and training sessions. Their positive reports as to the helpfulness of the material have been a stimulus to keep pressing on. Barbara Moore and Harriet Hill have been special encouragers.

My wife, Louise, has from the beginning been a major supporter. In fact, together we lived many of the examples presented in the work.

I must thank the countless African friends and acquaintances who are really the subject of the book. Almost without exception I have found Africans to be friendly, accepting, and personable. The book is really about them and “us” Westerners, and how we can better understand and appreciate each other.

A few contributors have asked to remain anonymous, so they are cordially thanked anonymously.

The names of some who gave me a good word, or suggestion, or encouragement along the way may have been left out. I ask their indulgence; no one has been omitted intentionally.

I finally thank the academic editorial staff of SIL International for their interest in the book and for bringing it to light of day. In particular my sister, Bonnie Grindstaff, did the heavy editing for which I’m most grateful, followed by Bonnie Brown. Others were part of the process, in the editing and business sections headed by Mary Ruth Wise and Larry Salge, respectively. Many cordial thanks to all.

Westerners who give money and economic advice to Africa, as well as those who write about the continent, spend far too much time looking in...