Business etiquette in Niger

The second city we visited was Niamey, situated in Niger. There were not a lot of things similar to the business etiquette in Nigeria.

The people who live over there are very directly and usually say exactly what they think. They also want their privacy. They have their own ‘territory’. What I actually mean is that they want a bit of space, so they don’t like it if people are sitting close to them. That’s just like us. Something strange is the fact that men en women don’t touch each other in public. Do you know why? Just because there are a lot of people considering it as taboo. Really strange. When they shake hands, they do it with their right hand also when they eat or when they accept gifts. This all because they consider the left hand as unclean. So when you are in Nigeria, they won’t like it when you do one of these things with your left hand.

When we were having meetings, the men always worn a button down shirt. Here in Belgium it looks a bit disheveled. But there it is the normal state of affairs. Women rarely wear pants, it’s most of the time an ankle-length skirt. So when you over there and you wear sleeveless attire, mini-skirts,… they will look strange at you.

On business cards they usually use French titles like Monsieur, Madame and Mademoiselle. In special situations (with teachers, doctors,…) they want to be addressed as Al Hadje (respected man) or Al Hadjia (respected/wealthy woman).

Niger has, if you follow me, a weird business etiquette. This country and city was totally not what I expected from it. I thought it would be similar to Nigeria, but it isn’t. I hope you won’t change those two countries, because there are a lot of diversities.

Sources:

• http://www.culturecrossing.net/basics_business_student.php?id=150
• http://www.everyculture.com/Ma-Ni/Niger.html
• http://www.explorra.com/destinations/niamey_12155