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Friday, October 29, 2010

Gambia culture

Culture

Social Conventions

Gambians are extremely friendly and visitors shouldn't be afraid to accept their hospitality. You'll usually be welcomed with a hand shake and the greeting Nanga def ('How are you?'). Many Gambians are Muslim and their religious customs and beliefs should be respected by guests; however, most understand the English customs and language. You should always remember to use your right hand for giving or receiving food or objects.

Casual wear is suitable, although beachwear should only be worn on the beach or at the poolside. Only the most exclusive dining rooms encourage guests to dress for dinner. Despite the extensive tourism, traditional culture in music, dancing and craftsmanship still flourishes in the many villages on both banks of the River Gambia. Travellers are advised not to photograph Banjul airport or military bases, and to ask the permission of any locals if they want to photograph them and their village.

 Religion

Gambia is over 85 per cent Muslim, with the rest of the population holding either Christian or animist beliefs.

History

The first written accounts of the region come from records of Arab traders in the ninth and tenth centuries AD. By the start of the fourteenth century, most of what is today called The Gambia was a tributary to the Mali Empire. The Portuguese reached the area by sea in the mid-fifteenth century and began to dominate the lucrative trade.

In 1588, the claimant to the Portuguese throne, Antonio, Prior of Crato, sold exclusive trade rights on the Gambia River to English merchants. During the late seventeenth century and throughout the eighteenth, England and France struggled for supremacy in the region, but the 1783 Treaty of Versailles gave Great Britain possession of the Gambia river.

In 1888 Gambia became a separate colonial entity, and in 1889 a crown colony. After World War II, the pace of constitutional reform quickened. Following general elections in 1962, full internal self-government was granted in 1963. The Gambia gained independence on February 18, 1965, as a constitutional monarchy within the

 Demographics

1.5 million people live in The Gambia, with English the official language. Despite the wide variety of ethnic groups, there's very little intertribal friction with each group preserving its own language and traditions. The Mandinka tribe is the largest, followed by the Fula, Wolof, Jola, and Serahule. The approximately 3,500 non-African residents include Europeans and families of Lebanese origin.The country is also notable for its religious tolerance, and Gambians officially observe both Muslim and Christian holidays.

More than 63% of the population live in rural villages, although more and more young people come to the capital in search of work and education. But although more and more Gambians are coming into contact with Western habits and values, the emphasis on the extended family as well as traditional forms of dress and celebration remain important parts of everyday life.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Facts and Statistics

Location: Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo

Capital: Accra

Climate: tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands

Population: 23,382,848 (July 2008 est.)

Ethnic Make-up: Akan 45.3%, Mole-Dagbon 15.2%, Ewe 11.7%, Ga-Dangme 7.3%, Guan 4%, Gurma 3.6%, Grusi 2.6%, Mande-Busanga 1%, other tribes 1.4%, other 7.8% (2000 census)

Religions: Christian 68.8% (Pentecostal/Charismatic 24.1%, Protestant 18.6%, Catholic 15.1%, other 11%), Muslim 15.9%, traditional 8.5%, other 0.7%, none 6.1% (2000 census)

Government: constitutional democracy

Language in Ghana

Different sources give different figures for the number of languages of Ghana. This is because of different classifications of varieties as either languages or dialects.

As with many ex-colonies in Africa, the official language of Ghana is the colonial language, English. Nine languages have the status of government-sponsored languages: Akan, Dagaare/Wale, Dagbane, Dangme, Ewe, Ga, Gonja, Kasem, Nzema. However, two dialects of Akan, Twi and Fante, although not government-sponsored, are also widely-spoken in Ghana.

Hausa is widely used as a lingua franca by Muslims in Ghana.

Society and Culture

The People

There are over 100 ethnic groups living in Ghana. The largest are Akan, Moshi-Dagbani, Ewe, and Ga. The Ashanti tribe of the Akan are the largest tribe and one of the few societies in West Africa where lineage is traced through the mother and maternal ancestors. Once famous for the luxury and wealth of their rulers, they are now more well known for their craftwork such as hand-carved stools, fertility dolls, and ‘kente’ cloth. Kente cloth is made cotton and is woven in bright, narrow strips with complex patterns.

The Family

Family is a very strong bond in Ghana and is the primary source of identity, loyalty and responsibility. Family obligations take precedence over pretty much everything else in life. Individuals achieve recognition and social standing through their extended family.

An interesting cultural variation among the Akan, or Ashanti and Fanti people, is that affiliation within the clan is through women. Mothers have a higher status as in their point of view people get their blood from mothers.

It is important for Ghanaians to maintain dignity, honour, and a good reputation. The entire family shares any loss of honour, which makes the culture a collective one. In order to protect this sense of face there is a need to maintain a sense of harmony; people will act with decorum at all times to ensure they do not cause anyone embarrassment.

Hierarchy

Ghanaian society is hierarchical. People are respected because of their age, experience, wealth and/or position. Older people are viewed as wise and are granted respect. In a group one can always see preferential treatment for the eldest member present. With respect comes responsibility and people expect the most senior person to make decisions that are in the best interest of the group.

Etiquette and Customs in Ghana

Meeting Etiquette

  • Traditional or native greetings vary among the various ethnic groups.
  • With foreigners the most common greeting is the handshake with a smile.
  • When shaking hands between themselves Ghanaians will hold the right hand in the normal manner but will then twist and click each other’s middle finger.
  • Unless you are experienced it is best to stick to a normal handshake!
  • Christians will generally shake hands between the sexes; practising Muslims often will not shake hands with people of the opposite sex.
  • Address Ghanaians by their academic, professional, or honorific title and their surname.
  • As a sign of respect, males over the age of 30 may be addressed as "pah-pah" while women of the same age may be called "mah-mee". People over the age of 50 may be referred to as "nah-nah".

Gift Giving Etiquettee

  • Gifts need not be expensive; the thought is more important than the value.
  • If invited to dinner at a Ghanaian’s home, you are not expected to bring a gift.
  • However, a gift for the children is always a nice touch as it shows a concern for family.
  • Gifts should be given using the right hand only or both hands. Never use the left hand.
  • Gifts should be wrapped, although there are no cultural taboos concerning paper colour.
  • Gifts are not always opened when received.

Dining Etiquette

  • Ghanaians enjoy entertaining in their homes and you should accept any invitation as a sign of friendship.
  • Dress well; Ghanaians place a lot of emphasis on how people dress. You may need to remove your shoes.
  • Greet elders of heads of family first.
  • Ghanaians table manners are relatively formal.
  • Wait to be told where to sit.
  • A washing basin will be brought out before the meal is served; use it to wash your hands.
  • Food is generally served from a communal bowl.
  • Do not begin eating until the eldest male does.
  • Eat from the section of the bowl that is in front of you. Never reach across the bowl to get something from the other side.
  • If you do not want to eat with your hands then ask for utensils.
  • If you use your hands then scoop the food with the thumb and first two fingers of the right hand. Do not use your left hand.

Business Etiquette and Protocol

Meeting and Greeting

  • Handshakes are the most common means of greeting.
  • It’s generally common to wait for a woman to extend her hand first.
  • Take time to enquire about people’s health, family and jobs. To rush a greeting is extremely rude.
  • Maintain eye contact during the greeting.
  • Titles are important. Use the honorific title plus any academic or professional title and the surname.
  • Wait until invited before moving to a first-name basis. The younger generation will tend to do so rapidly.
  • Business cards are exchanged without formal ritual.
  • Present and receive business cards with two hands or the right hand, never with the left.

Communication Style

Ghanaians are more indirect communicators. This means they take care not to relay information in any way that could cause issues, whether that be giving someone bad news, turning down an invitation, refusing a request or any other such matter. Ghanaians always want to protect their own and others’ face as well as maintain harmonious relationships.

As a result they tend to use proverbs, wise sayings, analogies readily. This allows ideas or messages to be convened in a manner that does not seem so blatant. In fact people who are viewed as wise frequently speak in proverbs.

Silence is a common means of communication. If someone is uncomfortable with a question or do not think the asker will appreciate response, they will say nothing rather than make the other person uncomfortable.

Business Meetings

Initial meetings are really all about finding out about one another and if a personality fit allows for future, more business specific meetings. One should therefore expect to spend quite a good deal of time in relationship and rapport building. Do not be surprised is business is not really discussed much at all.

First meetings may also tend to be a little more stiff and formal although once a rapport has been built this will soon dissipate. It is important to maintain a polite and somewhat reserved demeanour.

Hierarchy is respected so the most senior person is greeted first. He/she may be the spokesperson for the group or may deputise key stakeholders to speak.

Ghanaians have a keen sense of humour and enjoy telling jokes. However until you have understood their sense of humour it is best to refrain from telling jokes yourself. If a Ghanaian teases you take it good-naturedly. For the most part, this shows they are becoming more relaxed with you.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Facts and Statistics

Kazakh Flag

Location: Central Asia, northwest of China; a small portion west of the Ural River in eastern-most Europe

Capital: Astana

Climate: continental, cold winters and hot summers, arid and semiarid

Population: 15,284,929 (July 2007 est.)

Ethnic Make-up: Kazakh (Qazaq) 53.4%, Russian 30%, Ukrainian 3.7%, Uzbek 2.5%, German 2.4%, Tatar 1.7%, Uygur 1.4%, other 4.9% (1999 census)

Religions: Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, other 7%

Government: republic; authoritarian presidential rule

Language in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is a bilingual country: the Kazakh language, spoken by 64.4% of the population, has the status of the "state" language, while Russian, which is spoken by almost all Kazakhstanis, is declared the "official" language, and is used routinely in business. Kazakh (also Qazaq) is a Turkic language closely related to Nogai and Karakalpak.

Kazakh People, Culture and Society

A minority in their own land

Kazakhstan is unique in that its people, the Kazakhs, did not form the majority of the population upon independence in 1991. Currently the northern part of the country is populated mostly with Ukrainian and Russian majorities while Kazakhs are more prevalent in the south. Other prevalent nationalities include Germans, Uzbeks, and Tatars, and over one hundred different nationalities reside in the country.

It is the goal of the government for the Kazakhs to become the majority of the population throughout the country. This can be seen in many overt and covert actions and policies. Many street names have reverted to their historical names. Kazakh has been declared the national language of the country (even though many native Kazakhs cannot speak their own language). Expatriated Kazakhs have been invited to return home and settle. Couples are encouraged to have large families.

It is important to note that the people of Kazakhstan, inclusive of all ethnic groups living in the country, are called Kazakhstani. Only people of the Kazahk ethnic group are called Kazahks. If you are not sure of someone’s ethnic background, it is safest to refer to them as Kazakhstanis.

Culture of Kazakh

Kazakhs

The word "Kazakh" means "a free and independent nomad" in ancient Turkish. Kazakhs have travelled along the steppes of Kazakhstan from western China to the southern border of Russia for centuries.

For centuries Kazakhstan was a country of nomads and herders. Tribes were the basis of society; the tribe was constituted of family members and the family elders. Inter-tribal marriages were important in establishing security and peace. To this day, Kazakhs say, "the matchmaking lasts a thousand years, while the son-in-law lasts only a hundred." Arranged marriages are still the norm in many parts of the country.

A Patriarchal and Hierarchical Society

The Kazakhs developed a patriarchal view of the world. They banded together in extended family groups to battle the hardships of the environment and to protect their cattle and their families. This was officially called "ata-balasy", which means the joining of a grandfather’s sons into one tribe of extended family. The husband plays the primary role in family life and is ultimately responsible for the family’s survival.

Kazakhstan is also an extremely hierarchical society. Everyone has a distinct place in the hierarchy based upon family relationships. People are respected because of their age and position. Older people are viewed as wise and therefore they are granted respect. The "ways of the elders" is a popular expression that is used to explain why things are done in prescribed ways. Kazakhs expect either the eldest or the person with the highest position to make decisions that are in the best interest of the group.

Kazakh Customs and Etiquette

Meeting People

  • Greetings are rather formal due to the hierarchical nature of society.
  • The common greeting is the handshake, often done with both hands and a smile. Since many Kazakhs are Muslim, some men will not shake hands with women, so be sensitive to these religious differences.
  • Once you have developed a personal relationship, close friends of the same sex may prefer to hug rather than shake hands.
  • Most Kazakhs have a first and patronymic name (the father’s name followed by a suffix -ich or –ovich for son of or daughter of, respectively).
  • Wait until invited before using someone’s first name, although the invitation generally comes early in the relationship.

Gift Giving Etiquette

  • There is not a great deal of protocol in gift giving.
  • When invited to someone’s house for dinner, it is polite to bring something for the hostess such as pastries.
  • Practising Muslims do not touch alcohol, so do not give alcoholic beverages unless you know your host drinks.
  • Gifts are usually opened when received.

Dining Etiquette

  • Kazakh’s are very hospitable people and enjoy hosting dinners at their homes.
  • You will be served tea and bread, even if you are not invited to a meal. Since Kazakhs consider bread to be sacred, serving bread is a sign of respect.
  • When served tea, your cup will often only be filled halfway. To fill the cup would mean that your host wanted you to leave.
  • It is not imperative that you arrive on time, although you should not arrive more than 30 minutes late without telephoning first.
  • Dress conservatively in clothing you might wear to the office. Kazakhs value dressing well over comfort. To dress too informally might insult your hosts.
  • Table manners are not terribly formal in Kazakhstan.
  • Table manners are Continental -- the fork is held in the left hand and the knife in the right while eating.
  • Some foods are meant to be eaten by hand.
  • Your host or another guest may serve you.
  • In more rural settings, you may sit on the floor.
  • You will be given a bowl to drink broth or tea. When you do not want any more, turn your bowl upside-down as an indication.
  • If alcoholic beverages are served, expect a fair amount of toasting.
  • Meals are social events. As such, they may take a great deal of time.
  • Leave something on your plate when you have finished eating. This demonstrates that you have had enough, whereas if you finish everything it means you are still hungry and you will be served more food.
  • Expect to be served second helpings. 
A Sheep’s Head

  • In rural settings it is a sign of respect to offer the most honoured guest a boiled sheep's head on a beautiful plate.
  • The guest then divides the food among the guests in the following fashion:
  • The ear is given to the smallest child so that he or she will listen to and obey the elders.
  • The eyes are given to the two closest friends so that they will take care of the guest.
  • The upper palate is given to the daughter-in-law and the tongue to the host’s daughter so both women will hold their tongues.
  • The pelvic bones go to the second most respected guest.
  • The brisket is given to the son-in-law.

Business Etiquette and Protocol

Meeting and Greeting

  • The handshake is the common greeting. Two hands are often used.
  • Handshakes tend to be gentle.
  • Many Kazakh men will not shake hands with women. A woman should extend her hand, but if it is not accepted, she should not be insulted.
  • Maintain eye contact during the greeting.
  • Shake hands at the end of a meeting, prior to leaving.
  • If you meet someone several times in the same day, you should shake hands each time.
  • Wait to be introduced to everyone, usually in order of importance.
  • Academic and professional titles are used in business.
  • People are called by their title and surname.
  • Wait until invited before using someone’s first name.
  • Business cards are extremely important to establish one’s position, navigate bureaucracy and open doors.
  • Likewise, show the card of someone significant when trying to gain access or secure an appointment.
  • Business cards are exchanged without a great deal of ritual.
  • It is advisable to have your business cards printed in Russian on one side and English on the other.
  • Make certain that your title is included on your business card.

Communication Styles

Protecting relationships and people’s honour is important. As a result Kazakhs finesse what they say in order to deliver information in a sensitive and diplomatic manner. They tend to speak in a roundabout fashion rather than a linear fashion. They respond more favourably to gentle probing rather than direct questioning.

At the same time, many Kazakhs have a somewhat volatile demeanour and can raise their voice to get their point across. They are known for their fierce arguments. You may wish to retaliate in kind, but do so cautiously as there is a fine line between standing up for yourself and appearing overly aggressive.

Hierarchy is respected in Kazakhstan. Someone more senior is never ever contradicted or criticised, especially in public. You will be expected to treat senior Kazakhs in the same manner.

Business Meetings

Meeting styles vary by the type of business entity. Private industry is often more focused and westernized; things are a little bit more fluid. Public entities, on the other hand, follow lots of protocol and red-tape (leftovers from the Communist era). The latter may involve many more meetings and patience.

The hierarchical nature of the culture means that Kazakhs will want to meet people of similar rank. Therefore, it is important to forward the bios of all team members well in advance of any meeting.

T-shaped tables are often used for meetings so that both sides can be seated opposite each other. The top Kazakh at the meeting will sit at the head and his staff will be seated in decreasing order of rank. Your team should attempt to seat themselves in the same manner. In some companies, there is an emerging trend to seat peers next to each other to facilitate conversation.

There is generally a fair amount of small talk before business is discussed. This may take place over tea and sweets. Wait for the other party to bring the conversation to business. Spend time in relationship building; as a family orientated people they want to be sure you are trustworthy, affable and reliable.

The most senior Kazakh at the meeting opens the discussion and introduces his team in rank order. Although meetings have a start time, they seldom have an ending time. They are masters at delivering roundabout speeches. Therefore, it would be impractical to predetermine when a meeting will finish.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Facts and Statistics

Location: Southern most tip of Africa, bordering Botswana 1,840 km, Lesotho 909 km, Mozambique 491 km, Namibia 967 km, Swaziland 430 km, Zimbabwe 225 km

Capital: Pretoria

Climate: mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights

Population: 42,718,530

Ethnic Make-up: black 75.2%, white 13.6%, Coloured 8.6%, Indian 2.6%

Religions: Christian 68% (includes most whites and Coloreds, about 60% of blacks and about 40% of Indians), Muslim 2%, Hindu 1.5% (60% of Indians), indigenous beliefs and animist 28.5%

Government: republic

Languages in South Africa

South Africa has 11 official languages. English is the language of administration and is spoken throughout the country. The other official languages are: Afrikaans, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsongo, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu.

South African Society & Culture

The Rainbow Nation

South Africa is one of the most multicultural countries in the world. In urban areas many different ethnic groups will make up the population. In addition to the indigenous black peoples of South Africa colonialism and immigration have brought in white Europeans, Indians, Indo-Malays, Chinese and many more.

As such it is difficult to generalise at all on South African etiquettes and culture due to the diversity.

The Family in South AfricaMap of South Africa

. The basic unit of South African society is the family, which includes the nuclear family and the extended family or tribe.
. In traditional African society, the tribe is the most important community as it is the equivalent of a nation. The tribe provides both emotional and financial security in much the same way the nuclear family does to white or coloured South Africans.
. The coloured and more traditional Afrikaans cultures consider their extended family to be almost as important as their nuclear family, while the English-speaking white community places more emphasis on the nuclear family.
. The nuclear family is the ultimate basis of the tribe. The tribal and family units are being disrupted by changes in the economic reorganization of the country
. As more people move into the urban areas, they attempt to maintain familial ties, including providing financial support to family members who have remained in the village.

The Rural/Urban Dichotomy

. There are vast differences between the values of the rural and urban dwellers.
. The majority of the whites living in rural areas are Afrikaner farmers who are descended from the Calvinists. Their views on the world are sometimes narrow. At the same time they value human decency over materialism.
. City dwellers live life in the fast lane, which affects their outlook.
. People from Johannesburg can quite often be regarded as having materialistic values, and being more interested in what you own rather than who you are. They prefer to see themselves as urbane and their country cousins as less sophisticated.
. People from Cape Town are very proud of their city, and often appear to have a superior attitude about their city versus the rest of the country. Family ties, long-term friendships and social standing are all important to Capetonians.
. The many rural black communities are still rooted in the traditions of their heritage, whereas the increasingly urban black community combines their roots with the urban environment and international influences that surround them.

Etiquette & Customs in South Africa

Meeting Etiquette

. There are several greeting styles in South Africa depending upon the ethnic heritage of the person you are meeting.
. When dealing with foreigners, most South Africans shake hands while maintaining eye contact and smiling.
. Some women do not shake hands and merely nod their head, so it is best to wait for a woman to extend her hand.
. Men may kiss a woman they know well on the cheek in place of a handshake.
. Greetings are leisurely and include time for social discussion and exchanging pleasantries.

Gift Giving Etiquette

. In general, South Africans give gifts for birthdays and Christmas.
. Two birthdays - 21 and 40 - are often celebrated with a large party in which a lavish gift is given. It is common for several friends to contribute to this gift to help defray the cost.
. If you are invited to a South African's home, bring flowers, good quality chocolates, or a bottle of good South African wine to the hostess.
. Wrapping a gift nicely shows extra effort.
. Gifts are opened when received.

Dining Etiquette

If you are invited to a South African's house:

. Arrive on time if invited to dinner.
. Contact the hostess ahead of time to see if she would like you to bring a dish.
. Wear casual clothes. This may include jeans or pressed shorts. It is a good idea to check with the hosts in advance.
. In Johannesburg, casual is dressier than in other parts of the country. Do not wear jeans or shorts unless you have spoken to the hosts.
. Offer to help the hostess with the preparation or clearing up after a meal is served.

Business Etiquette and Protocol

Relationships & CommunicationEtiquette and Customs in South Africa

. South Africans are transactional and do not need to establish long-standing personal relationships before conducting business.
. If your company is not known in South Africa, a more formal introduction may help you gain access to decision-makers and not be shunted off to gatekeepers.
. Networking and relationship building are crucial for long-term business success.
. Relationships are built in the office.
. Most businessmen are looking for long-term business relationships.
. Although the country leans towards egalitarianism, businesspeople respect senior executives and those who have attained their position through hard work and perseverance.
. There are major differences in communication styles depending upon the individual's cultural heritage.
. For the most part, South Africans want to maintain harmonious working relationships, so they avoid confrontations.
. They often use metaphors and sports analogies to demonstrate a point.
. Most South Africans, regardless of ethnicity, prefer face-to-face meetings to more impersonal communication mediums such as email, letter, or telephone.

Business Meeting Etiquette

. Appointments are necessary and should be made as far in advance as possible.
. It may be difficult to arrange meetings with senior level managers on short notice, although you may be able to do so with lower-level managers.
. It is often difficult to schedule meetings from mid December to mid January or the two weeks surrounding Easter, as these are prime vacation times.
. Personal relationships are important. The initial meeting is often used to establish a personal rapport and to determine if you are trustworthy.
. After a meeting, send a letter summarizing what was decided and the next steps.

Business Negotiations

. It is imperative to develop mutual trust before negotiating.
. Women have yet to attain senior level positions. If you send a woman, she must expect to encounter some condescending behaviour and to be tested in ways that a male colleague would not.
. Do not interrupt a South African while they are speaking.
. South Africans strive for consensus and win-win situations.
. Include delivery dates in contracts. Deadlines are often viewed as fluid rather than firm commitments.
. Start negotiating with a realistic figure. South Africans do not like haggling over price.
. Decision-making may be concentrated at the top of the company and decisions are often made after consultation with subordinates, so the process can be slow and protracted.

Dress Etiquette

. Business attire is becoming more informal in many companies. However, for the first meeting, it is best to dress more conservatively.
. Men should wear dark coloured conservative business suits.
. Women should wear elegant business suits or dresses.

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