Cultural Note

Use of the Left Hand

By Samantha Malone

Ghanaians consider it an insult or rude to wave, eat, drink, or hand someone an object with your left hand; the left hand has historically been used for self-cleaning in developing countries. Even though most of Ghana has developed well beyond this point, and is in fact considered a middle-income economy, this southpaw must still be cognizant of how I use my left hand. More by Sam »