Nairobi

Our woman in Africa has already been fully integrated in the tea ritual of her host office.

It is 2 o’clock on the dot in the newsroom of the Daily Nation, Nairobi, Kenya. The big tea tank has been set up. The staff members assemble at the buffet made of light-coloured plywood, take one of the quite battered cups from the cupboard, queue up and tap their tea, which has already been mixed with milk.

There is coarse, brownish sugar in a plastic bowl. There is only one spoon. The first to take a cup of tea picks up the spoon, pours – on average – three spoonfuls of sugar in their cup on the buffet and stirs diligently.

When the motions slow down – when the stirring procedure is about over – the next waiting co-worker opens the thumb and index finger of their right hand and takes the spoon. The spoon is not put down until everyone has his or her tea. This keeps the sugar from sticking to the spoon. Before and after 2 o’clock, water can be tapped from a large water dispenser. There are plenty of cups. Jackson Mutinda will miss that in Frankfurt.