ADVERTISEMENT

It is unhygienic to eat with your finger – Pastor Mensa Otabil

Speaking at the National Convocation of the 2017 Springboard Roadshow on the need for a change in the attitudes of Africans, Pastor Otabil said it is old-fashioned to eat with one’s hand no matter the meal.

___6269712___https:______static.pulse.com.gh___webservice___escenic___binary___6269712___2017___2___23___12___Pastor-Otabil

“I cannot say the Africa of 1717 has to be the same Africa of 2017. For example, the way people eat. You give people kenkey and fish and they say I have to go African; that means I have to eat with my fingers. Now, who ever told you that eating with fingers is African? Eating with fingers is simply an antiquated, unhygienic way of eating.”

“The British used to eat with their fingers, the Romans used to eat with their fingers, the Greeks used to eat with their fingers, the Japanese used to eat with their fingers, the Chinese used to eat with their fingers. After some time they realised the finger gets too dirty so now let’s get utensils to be extension of our fingers.”

ADVERTISEMENT

He continued that most of them innovated items that can be used for eating instead of using the hand.

“Some use chopsticks, some use stainless steel so that they can clean it properly, dirt doesn’t stick on it. Now we say no. Everybody has moved but we are committed. The game has changed but we will play it our way.”

He explained that his main challenge is that Africans have decided not to change certain practices even though the world is modifying things every day.

Many Africans and Ghanaians especially prefer to eat with their hands. Many people identify it as the ‘African way’ of eating.

ADVERTISEMENT

But Pastor Mensa Otabil believes Africans must change with the times.

He also mentioned that "fufu" is gradually killing Africans.

Fufu, which is prepared with cooked cassava and plantain, yam and or cocoyam, is one of the many favourite delicacies in several countries in Africa.

ADVERTISEMENT

"The annoying thing is when you're pounding, the sweat will be going in and will be mixed, and even in the mortar, there are all kinds of bacteria in the corners, this is an ecosystem for bacteria, 5 years and we are still pounding and people will say, that's what we like."

"It's killing us; because you know Africans we don't know what kills us, the thing is killing us but you say it's a witch because we never identify objectively the cause of the problem.....Come to think of it, this fufu in this mortar is not sanitised, what impact does it have on our lives?"

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.com.gh

ADVERTISEMENT