Burkina Faso

Greetings

Men greeting Men – A handshake with the right hand is the most common form of greeting. Handshakes are often combined with a snap on the release for those who are friends.

Women greeting Women - A handshake with the right hand is the most common form of greeting.

Men and Women – A handshake with the right hand is the most common form of greeting. A verbal greeting or nod of acknowledgment is acceptable as well.

Note: On holidays there’s usually a handshake accompanied by head taps – touching the sides of your head to another person’s 4 times, 2 on each side. For children to elders or for lower class to upper class adults – a handshake with the right hand while the left hand supports the right elbow to show respect.

Communication Style

• Most Burkinabe are very indirect communicators. If someone is unhappy with what is said or doesn’t want to answer a question, they just kind of say “uh-hum…” and then there’s awkward silence because they’ll just not speak any more.
• In problem solving & conflict resolution, there is often a 3rd party system. For instance, if there is an argument between 2 people, one may grab a 3rd party who knows the other person well to ask forgiveness.

Personal Space & Touch

• Between members of the opposite sex, people tend to keep their distance so as not to give the wrong impression to others who may see them speaking.
• There’s much less distance between members of the same sex. Less than an arm's length is the norm.
• There is much more touching between members of the same sex while talking than between members of the opposite sex. Sometimes men hold hands, have one hand on another’s leg, or sit “spooning” while talking (one behind the other). This tends to be the same between two women, but women seem to touch each other less than men.
• There is usually limited touching between genders during conversation.

Eye Contact

• Between members of the same social class, direct eye contact is generally acceptable. However, overly direct eye contact may be viewed as rude and possibly a threat.
• Kids don’t generally look elders in the eye, and very few people are allowed to (or are expected to) look a village chief or respected elder in the eye when speaking to them.
• Students don't generally feel comfortable looking their teachers in the eye.

Gestures

• To beckon someone, you wave with the palm down, clapping your fingers into your palm.
• Some people may hiss at a person very loudly to get their attention.
• To express agreement with something, there’s a clicking noise people make in their throats.

Views of Time

• Very few people in Burkina Faso are conscious of time and punctuality does not tend to be highly valued.
• Meetings rarely begin at the scheduled time. Sometimes they can begin over 2 hours later than scheduled.
• Most people do not expect all participants to arrive on time to meetings or consider it rude to show up late.
• Transportation services rarely run on time.
• Most people give their time to others freely. There is rarely a “time is money” mentality. People are very quick to stop what they’re doing to help others in need, even if they are in the midst of many others chores.
• In the cities, punctuality is much more valued, as more people are time-conscious and “western.” Especially in business settings. On the village level, time is not as much of a concern.

Gender Roles

• At the village level women are generally treated like second-class citizens. Their opinion about things are not asked or wanted. If there is only enough money to send one or two kids to school, the boys will be chosen before the girls, even if the boys do not have a desire to go to school.
• Women tend to the children at home, get the well water, wash clothes, cook, clean, plant the crops and harvest them. Women in the village are not to drink alcohol or coffee or smoke.
• In the city, there’s more equality between men and women, but not quite like the more egalitarian western countries.
• Foreign women are called the “3rd sex” – not like men or women. It is generally accepted that they drink and hang out in town although many people may not consider them as physically strong as Burkinabe women or capable of doing the same tasks.

Taboos

• Women dressing promiscuously (shorts, short skirts, tank tops,very tight clothes) will almost always be seen as offensive.
• Ignoring people who greet you is considered extremely rude.
• Homosexuality is definitely NOT an accepted way of life. Many people believe it’s a physical sickness that Westerners brought into the country.
• Avoid giving money, eating or shaking hands with your left hand. Always use the right.

Law & Order

• Muslim villages do not usually allow any alcohol in their borders, but most Christian or mixed-religion villages do not have any prohibitions on it.
• It's best to have ID on you at all times in the cit.
• Stealing is vehemently unaccepted and sometimes people are beaten to death if they steal and are caught by other citizens. If a police officer gets them, they’ll be arrested.
• Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

Dress

• For Men- Slacks and button down shirt, or traditional African outfit (loose-fitting top and pants in African print).
• For Women- Traditional African outfit (top and ankle-length skirt in African print), or other formal top and skirt. It’s rare to see local women in pants, especially in the village.

Titles & Business Cards

• It’s usually best to address people by their professional titles or Mr., Mrs. or Miss.
• There is no set protocol with the giving and receiving of business cards but it is always advisable to give and receive cards with the right hand.

Meetings

• It’s best as a foreigner to show up on time for a meeting even though you may end up waiting.
• Small talk is almost always expected. It's good to ask how one’s health, family, morning, day, week, life is, etc.
• The person who called the meeting will usually begin the meeting unless there is a higher official present – such as a mayor, Prefect, etc.

Negotiations

• At the market place, negotiating tends to be a long and exhausting process. Usually the seller gives an extremely high price (especially if you’re foreign) and you give an extremely low price, then you both keep compromising until you agree on a fair price.
• Sometimes you can just go into the negotiation with your “highest price” you’re willing to pay and then walk away if they don’t agree to it. You’ll most likely get called back and it’ll be accepted if it’s even slightly profitable for the seller.
• It's best not to get too worked up when negotiating even though you may come across local merchants who fake anger and give guilt trips to sell at a better price.
• Decisions tend to come from the top down and will most likely take awhile to be reached.

Gift Giving

• Gifts are not expected but appreciated in business situations.
• It's best to give and receive gifts with both hands.
• If invited over for dinner or a drink to a Burkinabe home, you should always bring the host/hostess a gift. Flowers and/or chocolate are acceptable gifts.

In the Classroom

• The grading system at most institutions is based on the French system of 0-20, with 20 being the highest. A 20 is next-to-impossible to earn though, 11s and 12s are average. Below 10 is failing.