7 Most Unusual Things Nigerians Do

Nigeria is a wonderful country.

The ‘Giant of Africa’ is blessed with people of diverse cultures and ways of life. There is not a single dull moment with Nigerians. They have a unique approach to life and are famed for making things happen in their own way.

Nigerians also have some unusual things they do. Stuff you do not see done in any other part of the world. So I looked around and went on to compile a list of the 7 most unusual things Nigerians do.

Check it out:

1. Nigerians tend to answer questions with questions.

So I was with my friend the other day when he saw a beautiful girl walking down the street, he walked up to her and said “Excuse me, do you know you are beautiful?” and she said “who told you?” I just shook my head and walked away.

Funny enough, this is a normal thing with Nigerians. We tend to answer questions with questions a lot in this country and it has been accepted as part of our way of life.

2. Nigerians can be very courteous during phone calls

Some Nigerians are so courteous that they genuflect when talking to elders on phone. In simple English, a typical Nigerian woman (especially from the west) would practically kneel down when receiving a phone call from her boss even though the boss isn’t standing in front of her at that moment.

If you see someone doing that, don’t worry, it’s absolutely normal.

3. Sell things in strangest places

I walked into a restaurant the other day and the waitress told me “Uncle we don dey sell recharge card now oh”, and as a typical Nigerian I wasn’t surprised. You can find normal everyday things sold in the most unusual places.

It is not unusual to walk into a pharmacy in Nigeria and find canned tomatoes on sale there. When you encounter something like this, just go with it. It may seem strange but it’s totally normal in Nigeria.

4. Nigerians use the Shopping mall as a recreational center

One advice, do not visit the shopping malls in Nigeria on public holidays or festive days. They’d surely be teeming with people. This is because a lot of Nigerians have the idea that one of the best places to relax is the shopping mall. Lord knows where that idea comes from but it has totally been accepted in Nigeria.

5. There is a real thing called ‘Nigerian Time’

Nigerian took the concept of being ‘fashionably late’ and turned it up a notch, creating something that is accepted all over the country as ‘Nigerian time’. It is simply the practice of going late to a function or an appointment and blaming it on the country.

It’s not our finest attribute but it’s our thing regardless of how unusual it seems.

6. Say words twice

As Nigerians, we are automatically configured to say words twice for emphasis or to name thing in our own way. Custom made words like ‘sharp sharp’, ‘now now’, ‘kuli kuli’, ‘lie lie’, ‘waka waka’, ‘yama yama’, ‘chuku chuku’ and several others are used daily in Nigeria. Even our most popular dance style right now is called ‘shaku shaku’. So do not be surprised to hear people use them freely in the country.

7. Have superstitious beliefs

In Nigeria, you cannot pass in between two people walking together, its basically a crime. We grew up with some crazy superstitious beliefs that are generally accepted. Let me list some beliefs I was told.

• First of all, I wasn’t allowed to drink the water inside a coconut, apparently it would have made me dull.
• Then I was told that if I hit my right leg on a stone while going out, then I’d have a good day. But if it’s the left leg, then I have a bad day. And I totally believed it!
• I wasn’t allowed to eat gizzard as a kid, just because I was a kid and apparently it was forbidden for kids to eat gizzard. Someday, I’d confront that uncle who made me believe this.
• I didn’t allow anyone flog me with a broom when growing up. Why? See there is this popular belief about guys and broom….

So do you have any other unusual thing you have seen Nigerians do? Or a superstitious belief you were told growing up? Feel free to tell us by leaving us a comment below.

Cheers!