Senegal

Greetings

Men greeting Men – A handshake with the right hand is the most common form of greeting. Handshakes tend to linger a bit and it common for two men to continue holding/shaking hands through out the conversation.

Women greeting Women - Verbal greetings tend to be the norm. A handshake with the right hand is generally acceptable as well. Handshakes tend to linger a bit and it common for two men to continue holding/shaking hands through out the conversation.

Greetings between Men Women – Verbal greetings are the norm. A handshake with the right hand is generally acceptable as well in business and certain formal situations. It is best to allow the woman to initiate a handshake, if at all.

Note: Greetings are very important in and consist of a lengthy exchange of questions regarding your health, the well-being of your family and general pleasantries. Sometimes it may sound like a broken recording as the same greeting is repeated each time you meet someone. Simple greetings may go on for 10 minutes or more. Always use the right hand.

There is a minority of Senegalese, called “Ibado,” who are very strict Muslims and who can not touch those of the opposite sex. In this case, a verbal greeting will suffice.

Communication Style

• In general, communication is indirect in Senegal, especially when speaking critically with someone older or someone you do not know.
• People will often times use metaphors or an analogy to speak about delicate issues, as this is considered more polite than being direct.
• Personal relationships are highly valued, so it's best to not rush through greetings and maintain a positive and harmonious relationship with those you meet.
• People don’t usually make direct requests, they state their needs. However, some Senegalese speaking to Westerners will make very direct requests – even if they don’t actually expect anything to result from it.

Personal Space & Touch

• A little less than an arm’s length of personal space is acceptable during conversations. This space tends to be greater between members of the opposite sex and less for friends and family.
• It is common to see men holding hands with other men while walking and talking. This is a sign of friendship.
• Touching while talking is accepted for men with men and women with women, but between genders there is usually less touching and more personal space given.
• It is taboo for religiously observant Muslim men to touch women and vice-versa.

• Members of the same sex will touch each other frequently while talking, but it is usually inappropriate for men and women to touch each other while talking – though less so in cities, among unmarried teens and twenty-somethings.

Eye Contact

• In general, direct eye contact is expected when meeting and greeting. During conversations though, direct eye contact can be seen as a sign of arrogance and one should often times look down when conversing.
• When speaking to peers of the same sex, direct eye contact is acceptable
• When speaking to elders or people of authority, indirect eye contact is the most appropriate.
• In more rural, tribal settings, one must not look at the chief in the eyes. Lowering your eyes is a sign of respect.

• Not making eye contact is a sign of respect when talking to elders or a sign of deference when speaking to strangers.

Gestures

• Spinning the index finger at the temple is a way of saying someone is crazy.
• Thumbs up means good job.
• Sometimes people, kids especially, will point with their tongues.

• Hissing is a common way of trying to get someone’s attention.

Views of Time

• Being punctual in Senegal is not highly valued. There is the mentality that things will happen when they are supposed to happen.
• When in a work/business setting, it is more professional to be on time; however, being an hour late is still common.

Gender Roles

• Back in the day, women were expected to stay at home, have lots of kids and take care of all domestic matters.
• In rural villages, the women still do stay at home, however, in the cities women are much more independent and work outside the home.
• It has been common practice for men to have more than one wife, with the first being highly respected and often seen as a sister figure to the younger wives. It is still normal for a man to have two or three wives in certain areas.

• In the larger cities women’s roles are becoming more like their counterparts in the Western world. Many own businesses, a few hold positions of power, etc.

• It is acceptable for men to smoke, but generally not women.

Taboos

• Using your right hand to shake, touch, eat food with, or handle money (or anything else) is a must. Using the left hand for these things is considered rude and dirty.

• In most areas, it considered rude to let the bottom of one’s foot or shoe point at someone. Feet should also not be propped up on chairs or tables.

• Not greeting someone when you see them is very offensive.

Law & Order

• The legal drinking age is 18 and not heavily enforced. As Senegal is 94% Muslim, many areas do not serve alcohol and it is inappropriate to bring alcohol in to those areas or drink in public.
• Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

Dress

• Senegalese tend to value dressing well. Being well-groomed and having your clothes neatly pressed will go a long way.
• For Men- Nice pants, a collared shirt, and a tie. In many situations a tie is not needed. Avoid jeans and shorts for the most part.
• For Women- Conservative dresses, skirts, or pants and blouses are acceptable. Avoid clothes that are too revealing or tight fitting. Short skirts and thin strapped tops should be avoided.

Titles & Business Cards

• Using titles is appropriate at initial meetings. “Monsieur”, followed by the last name for men or “Madame”, followed by the last name for women is common. If they’re a doctor, call them “Docteur”.
• For a boss or company head it is common to us Mr. Director or Director followed by the last name.
• Avoid using first names until being invited to do so.
• Once you get to know someone, using a nickname is very common.
• When giving and receiving business cards, it is always advisable to do so with both hands or the right hand.

Meetings

• It is best to show up on time for meetings even though you may be kept waiting.
• Greeting and small talk are very important at the beginning and end of meetings. It's best to allow the host to lead the business discussion.
• Agendas tend to be followed loosely and often times people will go off-topic.

Negotiations

• Most Senegalese dislike confrontation and will avoid it all costs. This may lead to them agreeing to unrealistic time frames and contracts simply to avoid uncomfortable discussions. Talk may go in circles for a while and you may have to be the one to bring up difficult topics.
• Avoid any hard selling or high pressure sales tactics.
• Decisions tend to come from the top down and will most likely take awhile to be reached.

Gift Giving

• If invited over to someone’s home, it is polite to bring a small gift, such as chocolate or pastries.
• When giving and receiving gifts, it is always advisable to do so with both hands or the right hand.

In the Classroom

• The school year at most institutions starts in October and finishes in June.
• As once a French colony, all of the Catholic holidays are observed, such as All Saints Day, Christmas and Easter. Muslim holidays are also respected.

• At most universities, a wide variety of dress is acceptable, ranging from western dress to traditional clothing. Tank tops are acceptable but showing too much leg may be considered too sexy, so generally longer skirts and pants are preferred for girls.

• Grades are based on the French 20 point system, with 20 being the best and a 10 needed to pass.

• Teaching style also tends to follow the French system, in which teachers often lecture to their class and students diligently copy their lessons. Occasionally a professor will engage students in debates and group work.

Other Observations

• If invited over to someone’s home, it is polite to bring a small gift, such as chocolate or pastries.
• French is spoken by those who were educated in the French colonial school system, otherwise, three-fourths of the population speaks Wolof, making it the lingua franca.
• It's a good idea to try the local food, especially “toebou ngeen,” a rice and fish dish eaten for lunch almost everyday. Yasaah is also a common Senegalese fish dish.