AZERBAIJAN HOSPITALITY –Part I.

I have not lived all my life in Azerbaijan, but I have lived long enough to be a witness of the Azerbaijan hospitality. One thing the Azerbaijanis are very sure of is that they are one of the most hospitably people in the world. Although this has remained their own judgment of themselves, I will not fail to say how correct they have been to adjudge themselves so.

Azerbaijan is very strategic in its location in that it is bridge between Asia and Europe. Azerbaijan is surrounded by so much Orientals like the Persians, the Turks and the influence of Arab due to its religion as Islam. The nation Azerbaijan has been able to blend all these Orients from it neighbor to create its own identity. No wonder Azerbaijan offers it own blend of unique cuisines, arts and culture, etc.

Coming into Azerbaijan, with a very minute pre-knowledge of what the society will be like, I had held my own little fears. Fears of what the world has actually installed into all individuals due to divides brought about by religion stereotypes. As a fact, there is always a skepticism that exists in minds of any travels where his religion is in minority. This is also a true case of a country like Nigeria where religion has unconsciously divided its boundary with Muslims in the north and Christians in the south; even traveling across Nigeria is not always an easy adventure for Nigerians. Therefore I can be very justified to say I had my own little doubts coming into Azerbaijan.

My first good encounter with the Azerbaijan hospitality was the celebration of the Novruz Bayram holiday. I had read about the Novruz celebration which was a celebration of springs, the presumed New Year for the Ancient Azerbaijanis and this celebration has been preserved and passed on from generations. Another country apart from Azerbaijan where the Navruz Bayram is also celebrated is the Republic of Iran which of course has a vast population of Azerbaijanis living in the northern part of the country. Also, some part of Turkey celebrates the Novruz Bayram and a minute population of the Iraqis.

In celebrating the Novruz Bayram, one of the very conspicuous activities is the burning of fire and jumping over fire as a sign for purification. To some historians, this event was a characteristic of the Zorastrism, the worship of fire, a practice that was common among the ancient Albanians. Based on the understanding of Zorastrism, the Novruz Bayram can be classified as a pagan holiday.

As a sojourner in Azerbaijan, I had never wished I could have an opportunity to feel at home in a strange land. As a Nigerian, I have grown up celebrating religious events like the Christmas and Easter with sufficient knowledge of the Islamic holidays. During these times what characterize these celebrations are merriment, serving and sharing of delicacies irrespective of religion perspectives. Although in various other parts of Nigeria we have other celebrations associated with paganism but with the continuous influence of religion these practices are gradually loosing significance.

Nonetheless, Novruz Bayram remains unique to me mainly because of great deal of hospitality that comes with it. I was elated by the treatment I got from friends, and neighbors. Neighbors offered me the National bakeries called Paklava and Shakabura. Some gave me nuts of all species, I even had Plov (Azeri national meal cooked with Rice) brought to me from people I have never expected such gestures.

It didn’t stop there; I was hosted to a Nobruz Bayram party wherein I and other foreigners were fed with various Azeri delicacies like the dolma, dovgha, not to forget the Kabbabs.

A typical Azeri is always willing to welcome foreigners into his home unlike other natives of other countries I have visited and have knowledge of. For instance, in the West, visitors are entertained quit rightly, but the service remains a very light one similar to what friends can easily get from any restaurant on the street. On the contrary, this is not the case with the Azerbaijanis; such visit is always accompanied with the service of different meals with the drinks running non-stop. I have been to homes of some friends on just casual calls in Baku, but I was perplexed to see that what was to be a casual visit has turned out to be a mini buffet party with no real agenda on celebration.

Just to go back into history; the Azerbaijani has always practiced hospitality in this magnitude. It was the Azerbaijan hospitality that had made them dwell in good harmony with its neighbors. Azerbaijan still holds it’s hospitably character as a vital part of its existence. This character has significantly rub into the practice of it religion because as at present Azerbaijan to me remains the most tolerate environment where different faiths can co-habit without fear of extreme persecution, violation of right to practice ones own belief freely. Hospitality goes hand in hand with tolerance and that the Azerbaijanis have got in immeasurable size.

The Azerbaijan government has made tourism one of its points in development. As a foreigner, the choice of developing tourism is a worthy venture. The world over, no national tourism develops without the impact of the citizens. The hospitably character of the Azerbaijan people has ruled out any fear of hostility form locals irrespective of any part of the nation a tourist has decided to visit. The hospitality of the Azerbaijan nation no wonder, has caused a great influx of foreigners into this relatively small nation.

With the rate of development in the country, the migration of foreigners into Azerbaijan will continue to increase. On the positive side, for every nation that has experienced a large inflow of foreigners like Azerbaijan is experiencing, that nation also experiences a corresponding growth in all aspects of its economy. Therefore, with blend of the Azeri hospitality, the future indeed is very promising for the Azerbaijan Republic.