A case for standing on tradition and ceremony

I was reminded of the importance of having customs and rituals on our most recent trip to Cote d’Ivoire. We were welcomed as “foreigners” by all of the Ivorians we met– in settings as diverse as an air-conditioned high-rise government office building in downtown Abidjan to the remote northern village of Kofissiokaha in the subprefecture of Katiola.  Each interaction began with the same custom of offering a beverage, making introductions, and then asking for the news from home at a relaxed– never hurried- pace.  As a foreigner, once familiar with the ritual, there is a settling ease with which these steps are carried out; a graciousness which invites one to rest, take a breath and proceed with a communal spirit. Thus, Ivorians aren’t prone to rushing. Business, like relationships, need time and space to develop. First, we become friends. We share a drink together (often water, or, in a village setting, the locally brewed beer or palm wine). We celebrate. We share the news. Then, we discuss business.

We experienced these welcomes everywhere, from Caisse Nationale de Prevoyance Sociale (CNPS) the social security agency regional office in Bouake where the director gave a lengthy explanation for how business is done, to being reminded upon arriving at the St. Geneveive Orphange/Welcome Center in Katiola that we needed to visit the chief’s house for permission to enter the village, and later, finding ourselves in Kofissiokaha being welcomed with dancing, music and a communal bowl of tchapalo (beer brewed from corn). In all cases, the Ivorians were generous with their offer of friendship and community – rather than creating a barrier, these customs and rituals provided comfort and eliminated social awkwardness.

We’ve all been there. Meeting a group of people for the first time, unsure where to sit or stand, how formal or informal to behave, what to do with one’s hands?! How do you welcome new people to your “village” and make them feel at home? What customs and rituals do you practice with your team in your daily work?

- Erika