Cultural Observations from Tanzania - Hands

I danced with a man one evening. There are fewer social stereotypes. Men can walk and hold hands without it having some sexual implication.

The left hand is reserved for dealing with bodily functions. The right hand is your clean hand: the hand you eat with and shake hands with.

People shake hands frequently on meeting and departures, not just once. There are several ways to shake that show increasing closeness. You never hide your left hand when shaking with your right – that shows coldness. The farther out you grasp with your left hand up your arm and eventually to the other person’s wrist while shaking shows more appreciation. If your hand is dirty or to show respect, you may offer the back of your wrist to the other person or someone may take your wrist to show respect. Women shake hands with men differently: they offer their fingers while holding their elbow with their left hand and very slightly curtseying.

Most men do a triple shake, including one standard shake, one Afro-American-Bro shake, and then another standard shake. If one of the people is young, you may then follow this with another locking of fingers and snapping the thumbs. Hard to explain – but like a ‘secret handshake’.

When someone says something great you shake their hand in an exaggerated swing as kind of a ‘high-five.’

Before meals, washing hands is an important ritual. In formal settings, a woman brings the hot water and pours it over your hands while in a kind of curtsey. Every restaurant has a special hands-washing station.

Rarely are their paper towels or dryers to use after washing your hands. Air drying works fine.

The OK symbol is lewd, thumbs up is good. Don't beckon someone with your index finger, that is also lewd.

My wife and daughters will be delighted to learn that eating with one’s hands is highly appropriate.