Kutsume

Kutsume is a traditional ceremonial practice centered on hospitality and communal bonding. In communities that observe it, the term denotes both the act of inviting guests and the rituals that accompany the invitation, including sharing food, storytelling, and the establishment of reciprocal obligations that strengthen social ties.

Etymology and scope: The word is described in regional glossaries as deriving from the Zanari language, with roots interpreted as "call" and "people." Regional variants exist, with minor differences in greetings, blessings, and the sequence of actions associated with the rite.

Practice: The ritual typically begins with a formal invitation issued during a designated hour by an elder or host. Guests accept with a ceremonial reply, after which the hosts offer welcome rituals, bread, salt, or other staples, and a communal meal. Elders or performers recite blessings, songs are performed, and debts of hospitality are acknowledged to reaffirm communal obligations for the coming season.

Contemporary usage: Scholars study kutsume as a lens on hospitality, reciprocity, and social cohesion. While rooted in rural life, it has been preserved in cultural festivals and is used to illustrate traditional values in education and media, sometimes adapted for urban communities and inter-cultural events.

See also: Hospitality rituals, invitational rites, social reciprocity.