Not the ordinary visitors, like uncles, aunts and cousins, who often dropped by whenever they felt like it. But those special guests whose arrival had been expected for days if not weeks in advance.
The floors were swept extra clean, meticulous attention was paid to dusting, and sahani na vyombo vya wageni, which were normally stored away in a cabinet, were taken out for the guests to use.
When I eventually became independent of my parents and moved into my own place, I honestly couldn’t be bothered with special plates, knives and forks for special occasions. Anybody who ate at my place used the same utensils I used when I was home alone.
Only once, when I had nearly 30 guests come over, did I hire extra plates and glasses from a business in the CBD that ran a business hiring out these things.
I would discover as time went on that sahani za wageni was a thing in many other homes and even in other cultures. In England, for instance, a fuss would be made about the guest china or the special dinnerware that only made an appearance when guests were expected.
I found a semblance of the same culture in South Africa. In fact, it is a recent statement by South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa that got me thinking about the premium people put on going the extra mile to impress guests, tourists and so on, while not being particularly bothered how regular residents feel or see things.
Some background. On December 1 last year, South Africa took over the G20 presidency for a year, and as a result, there have been and will continue to be several guests from the Group of 20 intergovernmental forum, which comprises 19 sovereign states, the European Union and the African Union AU.
According to Wikipedia, “The G20 works to address major issues related to the global economy, such as international financial stability, climate change mitigation and sustainable development, through annual meetings of Heads of State and Heads of Government.”
As the high and mighty of the G20 prepare to descend on the country’s most important economic hub, Johannesburg, later this year, President Cyril Ramaphosa appears to have become very concerned with how the city and its province, Gauteng, will look to the wageni.
The South African media reported that while on an oversight visit to Gauteng ahead of the G20 summit, during which world leaders will be hosted in the province, Ramaphosa lashed out at the Johannesburg metro for not being quite up to standard for the expected guests.
Said Ramaphosa: “Of the two meetings I attended, the environment was not very pleasing. I say this so that we can improve immensely. As South Africans, we are a proud people. Let us get that self-pride to lift us up so we present a G20 that will wow people. This is so that when people look at what we offer they just say, 'Wow, this is how South Africans do it'.”
The President said that African custom demanded that “when visitors come, we make sure our abode, poor as it might be, becomes presentable and gives a good-look feel”.
Gauteng’s Premier (equivalent to a Kenyan Governor) Panyaza Lesufi was at pains to explain why Jo’burg and Gauteng, as the financial hub of South Africa, had deteriorated into such a mess under his watch and issued an apology to the President.
The discussion triggered Cape Town’s mayor to offer up his city as an alternative. The mayor said: “As South Africans, we absolutely want to see Jo’burg rise to be the world-class African city it should be, but if the challenges prove insurmountable between now and the November G20 summit, you can count on Cape Town to perform ‘country duty’ and host a successful summit.”
It will be interesting to see whether the Western Cape can usurp Gauteng and take over the hosting duties for the G20 summit in November.
