CIGARS AND THE AFRICAN PHILOSOPHY OF UBUNTU A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF AN AFRICAN I first smoked a cigar out of interest with some friends in high school. I don’t remember much about my feelings, but it was fantastic. However, I didn’t get into smoking cigars, not because I opposed it. First, cigars were not a part of my community. I didn’t know anybody who smoked cigars regularly. Furthermore, my father is an African pastor. I recently told him about my interest in cigars, and he said nothing, but I knew from his silence that he did not like that I was smoking cigars. However, he graciously accompanied me to an event with my cigar-smoking friends. Despite the cigars, he did have a good time.  I only mention the adjective African because though the West has taken a liberal direction on many behaviors, Africa is still very conservative when it comes to certain behaviors, i.e., cigars.  Finally, I was an athlete and enjoyed being in shape; therefore, I didn’t want anything to hinder my ability to compete. Smoking cigars was so rare in my life that I’m sure I didn’t smoke more than two dozen cigars in 45 years. This changed seven months ago. Seven months ago, I started an exciting and unexpected journey. It is a journey that has been a shelter and a refuge in a turbulent season of my life. It is a journey in which I adopted cigars to join my new interests and pleasures of coffee, guns, cowboy boots, and hats. Since that journey began, I have averaged about six cigars a week. Therefore, every month, I smoke more cigars than I have had in all my life. I have enjoyed this journey so far and have discovered that to enjoy any cigar truly, you will…