Left-hand usage: Norm or taboo?

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Culture

By Anita Uzoagba

A cross-section of Nigerians has expressed mixed reactions regarding the cultural belief that using the left hand to give or receive items is a sign of disrespect.

In interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday, some Nigerians said that using the left hand for such actions was considered taboo.

Others, however, believed that there was no issue with it, arguing that cultural beliefs around it should evolve.

Many also pointed out that such customs form an integral part of Nigerian identity.

Mr Jeff Odei, a Data Scientist, explained that “Nigerian tradition associates giving or receiving items with the left hand with bad luck, impurity, or disrespect.

“The left hand has traditionally been linked to ‘unclean’ things, impurity, or negativity, while the right hand is seen as a symbol of respect, honour, and positivity.”

Similarly, Mr John Atomore, a staff member of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), stated that the custom originated from ancestral traditions and had been passed down through generations in Africa.

He noted, “Using the left hand is seen as a sign of disrespect, while the right hand symbolises respect and regard.

“To me, there is nothing wrong with giving or receiving items with the left hand, but since it is a long-standing tradition, I conform to it.”

Also, Miss Deborah Obareo, a hotelier, explained that Nigeria’s cultural norms shaped how people perceive such actions.

“In our culture, offering someone an item with the left hand suggests a lack of respect or regard for them.

“As children, we often handed things to people with our left hands without understanding its meaning.

“That’s where the correction begins. As we grow older, we are taught that it is inappropriate.

She also noted that some Nigerian tribes emphasised respect more than others, although cultural interpretations of the custom varied among ethnic groups.

Meanwhile, Mr Kingsley Lao, a Cybersecurity Analyst, argued that the belief surrounding left-hand usage was a uniquely Nigerian perspective, not a global one.

“In the western world, this means nothing to them, but that doesn’t mean it is okay for us.

“This is what makes us who we are, ‘Africans.’ While we take in Western education, we should still filter through it and ensure we don’t lose ourselves.

“It’s important to preserve the little things that define us as a people,” he said.

NAN reports that this cultural debate highlights the ongoing conversation about how tradition and modernity intersect in Nigeria. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Dorcas Jonah and Abiemwense Moru

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