Hello everyone,
Overtime, I have been talking about unique things that are attributes to us as Nigerian and it has been quite fun for me because each time I get enlighted as well when I get to talk about some unique attribute we have as Nigerians. Some were based on culture, language and even proverbs. But this time I will be doing something different by talking about something we might be used to and that is not coming empty handed.
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It is not just a Nigerian thing but I think it could quite be a global thing as well. While in some Nigerian communities, it is quite unwelcoming to come to a person's place for the first time, empty handed. It could be a quick visit or you just want to hop in and say hello. I said earlier that I feel it is universal concept because I have seen in so many Hollywood movies when the guests always come with wine or something nice when paying a visit. This contributed to me forming the opinion that it could be universal.
Well for Nigerians, it is quite common. We are not strange to the idea that a guest could come along with something when coming over. It is a form of gesture to indicate the person comes in a welcoming spirit and they had you in mind while coming over. Also you will get to host them, and you can see it as a form of feedback for the hosting. This makes it a unifying collaboration between the host and guest. It does have to be something big, or going the extra mile just to make an impression, but it is the thought of bringing something along that counts. It could be fruits, snacks, or a simple hand pack of items that is filled with some basic essentials.
It's not about the culture or the tradition for it cuts across all this, down to a common factor that is always present, either it is Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa or any other tribe, that is respect for the host. A respect for the person one is going to visit is exhibited through the concept of not coming empty handed. This becomes predominantly effective when it is the first time the guest will be coming over. It is kind of making an impressiom and overtime one begins to do it without thinking much about it. Also it is very important to know that it also depends on who you are going to see, if it is an older person, it becomes important to get things that pertain to such person. This governs what the item to get will be. Most time, one hardly goes wrong with something edible.
This act strengthens the bond of culture between the guest and host. Overtime once the roles become reversed, the guest gets to be the host, they also get something in return. Micro acts like this make it welcoming for the person visiting and it becomes habits we pick up from a young age down to when we are adults and we exhibit it as well. Not coming empty handed can even become a way kids remember you visited. Now that I am older, I still remember guest who bought things for me whenever they came visiting and if I am being honest, I always longed for when next they will come around again.
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