“Time is of the essence”

OR

Is it really?

We use the phrase “time is of the essence” very loosely, do you know the actual dictionary definition is right now, immediately, while the legal term,( taking out the legal jargon) means “We mean it!”

So why all concern with time on a Saturday evening at 19h51?

Well I’m waiting........

My first 3 functions were scheduled for guest arrival at 18h00; it is now, as mentioned above 19h54, nearly two hours after the scheduled arrival and guess what? I’m waiting, waiting for guests to arrive, waiting to send the food ,waiting to start the entertainment!

So what have I learned about time after being involved in functions for 10 years? Here’s the thing: Europeans, especially the Germans will always be ON time (nothing new there), the French and Italians will be fashionably late  and the South Africans are completely confused  - Afrikaans speaking people will generally be there before the time(like an hour)very enthusiastic you see, white English speakers are also reasonably enthusiastic and Black Africans are notoriously late (like an hour to two)  

Hence the very real term African Time.

So as I mentioned , #justincase you didn’t get it I’m waiting and not wanting to be idle I did a little research on African Time.

African time (or Africa time) is a colloquial term used to describe a perceived cultural tendency, in most parts of Africa, toward a more relaxed attitude to time. 

According to Prominent Kenyan Philospher,John Mbiti understanding the African Concept of time can help to explain the beliefs and behaviours of the African people. Click on the link if you’re interested in reading further it realy is quite a fascinating concept.

http://ctl.du.edu/spirituals/literature/time.cfm

And then i found this little gem and had to share it!

“African time' is killing Africa - let's fight it." 

In October 2007, an Ivorian campaign against African time, backed by President Laurent Gbagbo, received international media attention when an event called "Punctuality Night" was held in Abidjan to recognize business people and government workers for regularly being on time.

The President awarded a nice villa to the businessman or civil servant who was able to be punctual for all of their appointments and meetings in a country notorious for people arriving late to everything.

It was remarked that this year's winner, legal adviser Narcisse Aka—who received a $60,000 villa in recognition of his punctuality—"is so unusually good at being punctual that his colleagues call him 'Mr White Man's Time'

And other interesting facts about time in Africa that you never knew but wished you did.#justsaying......

Swahili time is followed by many East Africans, particularly Kenyans and Tanzanians.

Swahili time starts at 6am not midnight.

 So if a Tanzanian tells you the bus leaves at 1 in the morning, he means 7am. If he says the train leaves at 3 in the morning that would mean 9am.

The difference between Cape Verde (Africa's most Westerly point) and The Seychelles (Africa's most Easterly point) is 5 hours. So if it's 2pm in Cape Verde, it's 7pm in the Seychelles.

On mainland Africa, West Africa is 3 hours behind East Africa. As you go from North to South there is no time difference. So the clock is the same in Libya as it is in South Africa.

 I must govern the clock, not be governed by it.

                                               Golda Meir

Until next TIME

Renxx