Hello nairalanders,

I just want your opinion on this situation.

If my husband and I have a guest, and i am to serve drinks, food etc. Who do i start with?

My natural inclination would be to start with my husband especially if the guest is his peer?

Is this culturally acceptable? How about if the guest is older?

thats an interesting question.

jill: Hello nairalanders,

I just want your opinion on this situation.

If my husband and I have a guest, and i am to serve drinks, food etc. Who do i start with?

My natural inclination would be to start with my husband especially if the guest is his peer?

Is this culturally acceptable? How about if the guest is older?

why not have the food prepared buffet style for the guests but prepare your hubby's plate separate?

i think the guest should come first coz after all he is the "guest" visiting both u and oga at home. but in a public function and u happen to be amongst those serving, then oga comes first before anybody.

but to save urself from arguments, attend to ur hubby first at all times....coz no one (hubby, guest, or elder) is going to take offense over why madam served her husband first before the other.

A Guest is a Guest and should be treated specially compared to everyone else. You should definitely serve him first before your husband except of course your husband disagrees.

In omenali ndi Igbo (Igbo culture), the guest is to be offered oji (kola nut) which he will break. The owner of the house is always the last to receive kola when there are multiple guests. The same goes for food and drinks. And also, when a guest meets you during a meal, you must invite him to join you.

I think it has to be the guest to show him he is welcomed into the house.

husband should come first!



if wahala burst, guest won't save you.

you have to show that respect even in the presence of the guest by serving your husband first!

@Odumchi, na omenani igbo, a wife would hand the kola to her husband, the husband now presents it to the guest.

@Topic, for food , I set table then inform my husband, he invites the guest to the table. Same for drinks.

Are we assuming the guest is staying over or just visited and will return back to his abode that same day.

Does it matter Afam?
Even if na 2 minutes visit, I would set table and inform my husband. How they do the rest is not my concern.
Btw, if my husband comes home with a guest, he does the "drinks" entertaining himself so I won't be involved , same for me but if its a guest that came to see us at home, husband asks the guest what he wants/just tell me what drink to bring, I bring and present to him then he serves the guest.

Each man to his own

Thanks guys,

Even though i'm still not certain of the culturally acceptable thing, i'll just go with serving my husband first, if guest is his peer.

If older, i'll serve guest first.

Well my parents said the right thing to do is to serve the guest first.