Changing Meanings of Qat Consumption in San'a', Yemen

Abstract

Qat is cultivated in certain areas of South Arabia and East Africa. Its shoots contain cathinone which has stimulating effects. Chewing the fresh shoots in the afternoon is very common among Yemeni people. The purpose of this paper is to compare the characteristics of qat consumption in 1970s with those of the present, revealing why and how people living in San'a^^-' chew qat or not, and pointing out their diversified ways of qat consumption and changes of its meanings. In Section II, characteristics of qat consumption in 1970s are described. In those days people gathered for the qat session at mafraj, a small and decorated room on the top floor, enjoyed kayf, euphoria produced by qat, spent a silent and yet happy time called al-sa^^-'a al-sulaymaniya, and felt a sense of unity. They were socially forced to participate in the session, and it was unusual to consume qat alone in private. In Section III, data taken through interviews and questionnaires in 2003 show recent characteristics of qat consumption in San'a^^-'. 80% of men and 30% of women are chewing qat though since 1970s more qat has been produced and consumed over Yemen. Many men are too busy to chew qat every afternoon; some chew it only on the weekend, and others chew while working. A housewife could chew it everyday, but many women do not. Moreover, some people chew qat alone, and a few have stopped or tried to stop chewing it by various reasons. Not only mafraj but also other rooms are used for the session, and workplaces are also important for men to chew qat. People who chew qat feel relaxed and energetic rather than kayf. Section IV reveals that the meanings of chewing qat have been changing. Qat was a way of tying people together; people chewed qat to be united. Now they can chew qat privately, which was regarded as anti-social behavior in 1970s. They can also choose not to chew qat. Qat, sometimes got attention and sometimes neglected as a strange drug, is very similar to cigarette and coffee, which are not called drugs but in fact induce stimulation just like drugs. These socially accepted stimulants have experienced changes from collective consumption to individual one. But qat is still on the way of changing. Qat-chewers and even those who do not chew qat know that qat has not lost its old function to unite people and that the session is a social place.