Cooking and Community: Soul Food and Hospitality Culture

You can’t separate the concept of Southern Hospitality from the smells and flavors evoked by good old-fashioned, home-cooked meal. The knowledge that food brings folks together isn’t new to the New World, though. Many cultures throughout Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe and pre-colonial America have their own style of potlucks. In the US, roots from European and African traditions are blended with existing Indigenous communal dining cultures in the New World.

It all boils down to ensuring a tasty, rib-sticking plate for guests, family and friends when they drop in. As we mentioned in our article on cultural origins of Soul Food, much of what’s called “Southern Cooking” has African roots. Black Soul Food, with it’s roots in the South by way of Africa and elsewhere, has permanently shaped the region. What we call “Southern food” draws from some European influences as well as ample indigenous American, African, Caribbean and even Latin influences.

The word companion comes from Latin roots meaning someone you eat bread with, where the term “to break bread” comes from. Eating together is about more than just getting physically full. It’s how culture is not only preserved, but handed down.  

DESERT CULTURE HOSPITALITY

In desert cultures and other areas where the terrain and climate were harsh and unforgiving, the people themselves adapted for generosity. In Xhosa, Zulu and other African cultures, this is embodied in the concept of inter-connectedness, compassion and humanity known as "ubuntu." This is another root of the communal feast tradition, the prototypical potlucks. In Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Indigenous traditions throughout the Americas, the importance of sharing food is a central part of many cultures. Sharing food fits with the [ ] concept of ubuntu which means “I am because we are” a philosophy related to sharing and living in balance. 

Middle Eastern hospitality, sharing food with the concept of “karam” (generosity) expressed through sharing food. “Mezze” tradition that is common throughout the Levant and further down the Mediterranean in Greece. This is likely a factor in why locations found on the Mediterranean in Europe are among the most likely to serve a surprise guest a meal. 

THE MELTING POTLUCK

As for the word “potluck” itself, there are different theories on its origin. Some sources point to its use in English for hundreds of years, but its resemblance to the Pacific Northwest word “potlatch” (a tradition of communal feasting and gift-giving) is another possible origin for the modern usage. Thanksgiving, from the beginning, is meant to be an expansion of this Indigenous tradition of communal food sharing though the narratives surrounding this are obviously heavily influenced by colonialist and imperialist perspectives. Pueblo feast days, powwow meals and other indigenous traditions in the Americas also shaped the type of potluck dinners and cookouts that pop up across the U.S.

You see some things show up in various places. Just like how about every culture has their version of “beans and bread” whether it’s ewa and agege in Nigeria, white beans and cornbread in the South, refried pintos and tortillas in Mexico, foule and pita in Egypt or any of many other ….  In North Africa mint tea is, in South Africa its rooibos, elsewhere it might be coffee but another hallmark of hospitality that spans continents, climates and cultures is serving a hot drink for guests.

In Ethiopia, injera (a sourdough bread) is used to sop up soup and the practice of “gursha” involves feeding each other in large gatherings. The Afro-Asiatic influence of “one-pot” rice dishes shows up everywhere from Senegal to South America to Siberia. Eating with hands, using bread as a utensil and large shared plates of food are another cross-cultural potluck tradition. “Kamayan” (from the word kamay, meaning hand) is a Filipino practice that evolved into the modern day “boodle fight."  Jordanian mansaf is another example involving communal plate serving that involves eating with hands, not utensils. 

Regardless who you are or where you're from though, good food knows no borders. 

What are your favorite ways to enjoy food with friends and family? We'd love to hear, share in the comments below.