Asantehene Guilty Of Killing Time?

Can Africa keep time?
Are Africans guilty of killing time?

English playwright, William Shakespeare, once said better three hours too soon than a minute late.

Well, in Africa, attitude to time-keeping is often the opposite of that.

Last week for instance, international journalists in the UK were kept waiting by the king of Ghana's largest ethnic group who was visiting Alexandra Palace in north London at the climax of a Ghanaian trade exhibition, Ghana Expo 2003.

The journalists had been informed that Otumfuo Osei Tutu II from the Ashanti would arrive at the exhibition at 1100.

The time was changed to 1400, but the king did not show up until two hours later when the journalists had already packed and left.

The incident only helped reinforce the belief held by many people in the developed world that Africans are terrible time-keepers.

Cases of a government minister keeping members of the public waiting, a friend turning up late for a date, a judge holding up court proceedings or a public service vehicle leaving and arriving late have become the norm rather than the exception.

The BBC's Africa Live programme asks, is poor time-keeping Africa's worst enemy?

How bad is the problem of punctuality around you? If you are good at time-keeping share your tips with us.

Join the BBC's Africa Live programme Wednesday 29 October at 1630 and 1830 GMT.

Can Africa keep time?
Are Africans guilty of killing time?

English playwright, William Shakespeare, once said better three hours too soon than a minute late.

Well, in Africa, attitude to time-keeping is often the opposite of that.

Last week for instance, international journalists in the UK were kept waiting by the king of Ghana's largest ethnic group who was visiting Alexandra Palace in north London at the climax of a Ghanaian trade exhibition, Ghana Expo 2003.

The journalists had been informed that Otumfuo Osei Tutu II from the Ashanti would arrive at the exhibition at 1100.

The time was changed to 1400, but the king did not show up until two hours later when the journalists had already packed and left.

The incident only helped reinforce the belief held by many people in the developed world that Africans are terrible time-keepers.

Cases of a government minister keeping members of the public waiting, a friend turning up late for a date, a judge holding up court proceedings or a public service vehicle leaving and arriving late have become the norm rather than the exception.

The BBC's Africa Live programme asks, is poor time-keeping Africa's worst enemy?

How bad is the problem of punctuality around you? If you are good at time-keeping share your tips with us.

Join the BBC's Africa Live programme Wednesday 29 October at 1630 and 1830 GMT.