At the opening ceremony of the Olympics, during the parade of nations, I noticed that while most the participants from most countries outside of Africa seemed festive, waving at the crowd, smiling, laughing, and generally excited and festive. However, those from many (not all, of course*) African nations seemed serious and stoic; few smiles, little waving, no dancing, no excitement. Even the North Korean athletes showed more excitement than many Olympians from Africa. Why?
Again, I will emphasize the point that not all African nations marched onto the field as if they were pall-bearers at a funeral. Nigeria, South Africa, and some others seemed rather happy to be there.
Another WAG: Many of the people in the delegation aren’t competitors, but judges and other officials. Not exactly the same feeling going into an Olympic stadium knowing you’re there to judge preliminary boxing matches as opposed to actually competing.
I didn’t see this Games’ march, but from memory of past ones, the African teams seem to be colourful, informal, and pretty blissed out. They also seem to have that peculiarly African gait, which is kinda bouncy. Their heads seem to bob up and down a little more as they march, and that alone seems to lend an air of happiness.
Generally Africans take any sort of formal occasion quite seriously. Even things we might consider minor events- let’s say International Philosophy Day- might involve speeches by top officials, parades, matching uniforms, formal galas, etc. Most African societies consider hierarchy and ceremony to be very important. How you dress and act is considered a direct expression of how much you respect the people you are with. So while there is still plenty of room for laughing, joking and having fun, that is kept until after the speeches are over and the uniforms changed out of. I bet the after parties were a blast!
It’s quite a contrast from America where we consider it a bit condescending to be overly formal in front of authority, we consider being casual and comfortable more respectful than being formal, and we think of public events in terms of our own personal enjoyment.
To give an example of this, Africans generally don’t smile in photos. Everyone’s family photo album is full of glum looking kids, stoic teens showing off the latest fashions, grumpy looking wedding parties and stiff family portraits. A photo is considered an important thing that will represent you for generations- a document of your life, of your family- and so it calls for a formal expression.
Your post seems to be quite a generalisation, as was the OP. But just to comment on the above; isn’t the US the country where journalists all stand up for the President?
I’m speaking after two years of living in small-town Cameroon. I can’t speak for all of Africa, but I think most of what I say holds true for Francophone West/Central African countries.
Another thing to add is that in my experience parades are a very important part of at least Cameroonian life. There are parades for Women’s Day, Youth Day, Labor Day, Teacher’s Day, National Holiday, and probably plenty more that I never went to. These parades are community wide events- participants rehearse, sometimes for weeks (youth day canceled school for a week so the poor kids could practice marching around in the hot sun). Most people who have a real job or are associated with any sort of organization will march with their group. It’s considered a point of pride to be important enough to be in the parade, and it requires some outlay of resources since usually matching uniforms and after parties are called for.
On parade day, people gather in front of the grandstand that is usually the centerpiece in town. The important people sit in the stands in a very specific order based on hierarchy. Authority figures arrive last (often hours late) and the parade will not start until they are there. The parade passes in front of the “big men” and any dancing, etc. is oriented towards them, not towards the crowds of local folks that have gathered on the sides of the parade ground. Afterwards there is usually a party where people relax and have fun.
So parades are a very important event which confirm your own status in society and also show respect for people with authority. And in Africa respecting authority (and there is plenty of authority in the crowds at the Olympics) is done by acting with dignity.
Even the vice-principle of my local high school- who I worked with for two years and drank countless beers with- always got the two handed handshake. And when I wrote a letter to my head of department to, say, request a class list, I had to start the letter with the classic Cameroonian phrase “It is my great honor to humbly request of your high personality that…you print me out another copy of the class list” Can you imagine how much your boss would laugh if you tried to send him that???
That’s interesting, thanks for the clarification. I don’t know Cameroon at all.
This is not generally the case in the bits of the continent I know (southern and east roughly). At least not in recent history when the reaction to authority figures tends to be relaxed and sceptical. (So okay, now I’m generalising!).