Joke as Passport

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23839, 14 December 1940, Page 5 (Supplement)

Joke as Passport

Among some of the primitive peoples of Africa when two people meet they are required to joke. This curious usage has been noted by Mr. Badcliffe Brown in his study of native African races, and the joke appears to bo a passport to friendly relations between strangers. Among relatives the etiquette of the joke is governed by strict rules. A man is 011 joking terms with liis wife's brothers and sisters, but not with her parents, with whom ho must avoid the practice. IMsirriiigo, is in general, the reason for these rules about the joke, though seniority has a particular place, •hiking may take place between grandchildren and grandparents, but the preceding generation must be treated with more distant respect. A nephew may joke with his mother's brother or other of her relations, but must keep his distance with his father's brother. There arc other even more complicated rules about the joke, which in some tribes arises out of a sort of blood brotherhood, and in others takes effect when goods are exchanged. 'I he African does not. like the Scot, joke with difficulty, but lie has to be careful.