Seniority…

One interesting custom we are observing and learning is seniority. The senior has the privilege. Here’s a story of how it works.

The guesthouse manager is Jonathan, a very nice young man. Jonathan just completed his first year at University and managing the guesthouse is a job that helps him pay for his schooling. Jonathan waits on us hand and foot, he prepares our meals, cleans up the table after us, he will do our laundry, etc. Ebere is the assistant to the Dean and the person overseeing our visit. He is Jonathan’s superior.

Last evening we chatted with Jonathan about phones, we need phones to stay in touch and to communicate with others. Jonathan explained we could buy phones fairly inexpensively in town and he would take us on Saturday. Later Ebere stopped by to check on us and phones came up and Ebere said he would take us to get phones tomorrow, Saturday. Hmmm… a potential dilemma.

Saturday came and I talked with Jonathan about phones and he offered to take us to town. As we walked across campus to the gate, Mike realized that we better check with Ebere so we don’t end up with 4 phones.

As we were tracking Ebere down, Jonathan said, “Mr. Bill (that’s what he calls me), if Ebere wants to take you to town for phones go with him and please don’t tell him I was going to take you. I don’t want to upset him, he wants to serve you and I don’t want to interfere.” I got the picture and when we met Ebere I carefully danced around the phone issue and Ebere made it clear he wanted to take me so…. Jonathan was politely excused and Ebere took us shopping!

We also observed the seniority concept between women and men…

Seniority… is an important concept here in Nigeria.