Question

Eating Christmas in the Kalahari
RICHARD BORSHAY LEE
Summary In this article, Lee describes a classic case of cross-cultural misunderstanding that occurred near the completion of his fieldwork among the !Kung Bushmen. To thank the !Kung for allowing him to live and work among them, Lee decided to donate an especially large ox for them to eat at their annual Christmas feast. To his dismay, the !Kung seemed disappointed with the animal he had chosen, claiming that it was too thin, old, and sick. Their attitude persisted even after the butchered ox proved to be so large and fat that it fed 150 people for two days.
Only later did Lee discover that the !Kung customarily denigrate and ridicule hunters who have killed large game in order to "cool" their potential arrogance. To Lee, the ox meant a gift, and in American culture gifts should be reciprocated with thanks and appreciation. To the !Kung, the ox was a large animal to be shared, something hunters contribute regularly. For them, the provider must be kept in line lest he become impressed by his own importance (a position related to the !Kung value on equality). Because of these different cultural interpretations of the same act, cross-cultural misunderstanding resulted.
As a postscript to this article, remember that the !Kung were studied by Lee in the 60s; few live as foragers today. For an update on the !Kung see the epilogue to article 8 by Lee and Biesele.
The !Kung ridiculed the ox given them by Lee for their Christmas feast because this is the usual way they "cool" the arrogance of people who provide important things for others.

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