African Time

There is this thing here in Africa referred to as “African Time”.  Some people might believe it is just an excuse or a phenomenon of always taking one’s time, things never beginning on time, people always being late, etc. which is only joked about. I would like to attest to the fact that African time is a real thing, and I have experienced it many times within the past few weeks, especially today.

Today I had my first “tutorial” at UWC. After discovering that “tutorial” does not mean a training session as it might in the states, but rather a discussion forum that is made up by a small portion of students from a lecture hall that meet at a different time, I headed to my tutorial at the designated time and space. I was shown to the classroom by a kind UWC student from my history class, but when I arrived at the designated room, it turned out there was no tutorial there. Fortunately a few other students were in the same boat, and three of us realized that we were going to have to go to the department to find out where the tutorial was actually supposed to be.

So, here you are, at the wrong location for your class, seven minutes after it was scheduled to start, and you need to go to the department to find out the correct location. You are already going to be late, so (if you are me) you walk swiftly, “with a purpose”, to the department, find out the correct room, and head to class.

Well, not on African time! The three of us students who were already late for class, strolled…slower that strolled…crawled, maybe? to the history department. I had no idea where I was going so I was obviously walking behind the others, basically tripping over my feet because I was walking so slowly. I tend to walk quite quickly anyway so it was extremely frustrating, especially with a task to accomplish. In the end, however, we made it to the tutorial, half an hour late and halfway through the class. The tutor didn’t even mind (although I hear some do), we sat down and joined in the discussion. No time was deemed lost or wasted, we made it there and proceeded normally. There was never any reason to rush or stress. African time.

Ironically enough, I thought about this concept on the way to my tutorial, and when I walked in the topic of discussion was “The Colonization of Time”, specifically how the colonists asserted control over the African colonies by implementing clock time as opposed to task time. Before colonization, work was done when it needed to be done, and no more or less than that. Colonization implemented a system where time=money, where work was valued based on time spent, not necessity or amount of work completed. Basically colonization ruined everything!

I have to wonder if African Time is some attempt to rebel against the system of clock time established by colonialism. I realize it is not an organized attempt, and that clock time is obviously still employed in the workplace and at school, to organize the day in any setting. However, living without the constant tick of a watch on our wrist or a clock on the wall, allowing a spare minute to pass us here and there, letting things be until they need to be done and welcoming the gradual progression of life is something I am sure we could all use a little bit more of. I attest to being thoroughly frustrated thus far with African time, most likely due to my lack of patience; but from here on out I solemnly swear to embrace it and enjoy it and to be here, in Africa, in time and place. 

P.S. Sorry for not posting lately! Now that I am in a daily routine, I might be posting less often, but will try to do my best to keep everyone updated! Have a wonderful week...enjoy every moment! ;)