African time
African time (or Africa time) is the perceived cultural tendency in parts of
Aspects
The appearance of a simple lack of
In the Caribbean, "...[t]hings just won't always happen as quickly or as precisely as you may be accustomed to". Due to the cultural influence of "Caribbean time" or "island time", locals do not have the sense of time pressure that is part of Western culture.[13]
Reactions to time orientation in Africa and the Caribbean
Self-criticism and commentary
The concept of African time has become a key topic of self-criticism in modern Africa. According to one Ghanaian writer,
One of the main reasons for the continuing underdevelopment of our country is our nonchalant attitude to time and the need for punctuality in all aspects of life. The problem of punctuality has become so endemic that lateness to any function is accepted and explained off as 'African time.'[14]
In October 2007, an
Popular culture
The contrast between African time and Western time is illustrated in the award-winning short film
See also
- Time in Africa
- Colored people's time
- Slow Movement
- Procrastination & Punctuality
- Tardiness § Ethnic stereotypes
- Time management
References
- ^ "Caribbean Culture - Caribbean Time - Island Time". Guidetocaribbeanvacations.com. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
- ^ "What is this thing called African Time?". Daily Maverick. 21 January 2010. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
- ^ Josh Macabuag. "Adjusting to Africa time - CNN.com". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
- ^ "Can Africa keep time?". BBC News. 28 October 2003. Retrieved 18 February 2008.
- ^ Knab, Joachim; Widlok, Thomas (28 October 2021). "Why the idea of 'African time' keeps on ticking". The Conversation.
- ^ a b Greg Flakus (26 August 2014). "Texas-Based Nigerian Filmmaker Explores Tardiness as Cultural Rift". Voanews.com. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
- ^ Bert Hamminga. "A Comparision [sic] of the Western and African Concepts of Time" (PDF). Eldrbarry.net. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
- World Catalog.
- ^ "Eke, Chijindu Kelechi., et al. African Time. Bigobi Productions, 2014". Harvard University Library.
- ^ "International Community Resources: Cultural Differences". Iowa State University. 7 June 2011. Archived from the original on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
- ^ ISBN 9780071605861. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
- ^ Hamminga, Bert "The Western versus the African Time Concept," accessed 2010-1-30 (this webpage article appears to be the author's synopsis of a discussion of the subject of time in John S. Mbiti's African Religions and Philosophy, London: Heinemann 1969)
- ^ a b "Caribbean Culture - Caribbean Time - Island Time". Guidetocaribbeanvacations.com. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
- ^ "Progress and punctuality". Ghanaian Chronicle. Asia Africa Intelligence Wire. 17 May 2004. Retrieved 18 February 2008.
- ^ Murphy, Peter (8 October 2007). "Gives new meaning to getting a house 'on time'". Reuters. Retrieved 23 April 2014.