Africa was at the beginning of its independent development in the 1960s and 1970s. The USSR and the countries of the continent were interested in cooperation: political contacts were expanded, joint economic and humanitarian programs were developed. They were implemented in practice by Soviet specialists in Africa. Another continent, climate, people, traditions demanded from the Soviet people not only special professional training, but also manifestation of special human and moral qualities.

The article deals with the problem of the use by Soviet specialists, who were on long business trips, of home «assistants» from among the local population. Such relations with the local population had a secret character during the period of existence of the USSR - the state, within the borders of which it was impossible to exploit a human being by a human being, were often forced and practically imposed by the leadership of the institutions, where Soviet specialists worked. Official documents on this problem are actually absent. Information about the «assistants» is taken from interviews with those who worked in the countries of Tropical Africa in 1960-1970s and directly used their services. The current model of relationships cannot be fully described as «master» - «servant» - because the nature and nature of the relationship with Africans in the service was completely different. The «master» - «household assistant» - formula is more appropriate for its characterization.