Communication Style

One of Malian culture, customs, and etiquette that you should know is definitely communication style. Malians tend to favor a mostly indirect style of communication. It's best to always start a conversation by going through a healthy dose of small talk by asking about the well-being of each other’s family members and friends before getting to the reason behind the conversation. People will often communicate through other people so that a message arrives indirectly at its destination.

In Malian culture, elders are highly respected. It is very rude to interrupt elders when they are speaking and one should never ever contradict them, even if they are completely wrong. Greetings are also an important part of Malian culture, and it is considered impolite not to greet another person. There are many proverbs used in discussions, e.g. “A piece of wood that stays in water will never become a crocodile.” “Slowly but surely the little bird builds his nest.” It's good to learn a few as well as the basic greetings in the local language.