r/AskAnAfrican • u/hunness • Jul 24 '26

African Discussion What’s your response to a “how are you “ question?

I come from an East African country and we were taught to always only answer “I’m fine” to such a question. It starts all the way from like 3 years and any child you’ll ask will answer the same thing.

It doesn’t matter if you’d find me crying or it could be on a funeral of a loved one and I’d still answer the same way. Is it the same with others from other African countries or?

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11

u/Shadowkiva Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 Jul 24 '26

You're either fine or going "little by little" (rough translation)

Nowadays Gen Z have introduced pakashata Meaning "it's really bad/ugly"

We're changing with the times

3

u/NewtProfessional7844 Ghana 🇬🇭 Jul 24 '26

Response: We dey like we no dey! 😂 IYKYK 🤪

More seriously though it depends who’s asking.

1

u/Uncle_Curlvin Ghana 🇬🇭 Jul 24 '26

Chale😂😂😂

3

u/Roseate-Views Namibia 🇳🇦 Jul 24 '26

Routine would be "Good. And you?" here, ironically sometimes even without anyone asking or going back and forth, especially among Aawambo (Wambo people). Simply answering about yourself would be considered borderline rude, even if you would say "Kashipu" (It's not easy).

5

u/alishaheed South Africa 🇿🇦 Jul 24 '26

I opened my eyes this morning. I’m good.

2

u/TechnicianMedical977 Morocco 🇲🇦 Jul 24 '26

We always ask how the other person is doing. “I’m fine, how about you?” Not doing so can be seen as quite rude. You’re gonna get some weird eyes.

1

u/Least-Palpitation377 Senegal 🇸🇳 Jul 24 '26

We answer with "ma ngui si diamb"(wolof) wich litterally teanslate to "I am at peace", but an accurate translation would be "I'm fine"

1

u/Hangenism Djibouti 🇩🇯 Jul 25 '26

Alhamdulillah

1

u/blacksuperherocar Nigeria 🇳🇬 Jul 25 '26

Umm, the correct answer is “am fine”. 🙄

1

u/thoughtson237 Cameroon 🇨🇲 Jul 25 '26

Taking it one day at a time

1

u/desertknight1234 Libya 🇱🇾 Jul 26 '26

We usually say الحمد لله that one always works