African Time

Africans say, “The whites have the watches but the Africans have the time.” Meaning the whites are always running around watching the time, whereas to the Africans relationships are more important than time. This creates the saying “Muzungu (white person) time and African time.”

I train trainers and I will tell them we work to Muzungu time, and they are learning!

It also can be difficult to set a time for an appointment. On Tuesday I spoke on the telephone with an African gentleman (George- not his real name) who wanted to meet me on Wednesday.

George:  Good afternoon Madam, How are you?

Me:        Good afternoon, I am fine thank-you, how are you? (greetings are so important in Africa)

George:  We can meet Wednesday at 2:00pm.

Me:         No, Sorry, I cannot make that, but I can make Thursday.

George:  We can meet at 3:00pm Wednesday.

Me:         No sorry, I cannot make that, but I can make Thursday.

George:  We can meet at 4:00pm on Wednesday.

Me:         Sorry, Can’t make 4:00pm Wednesday.

To complete this conversation I finally agreed to meet at 5:00pm on Wednesday

.

No way was George going to wait to meet me until Thursday.