education 3 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
African Greetings Like 'How Did You Sleep?' Hold Key Lessons for Modern Classrooms
Dr. Samuel Andema explains how traditional African morning greetings emphasize human well-being and relationships, urging educators to integrate these cultural practices into literacy teaching for more holistic competence-based learning. He critiques narrow classroom approaches focused solely on exams and advocates connecting education to students' everyday lives. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/oped/commentary/why-african-greetings-start-with-how-did-you-sleep--5412366
In many African communities, morning greetings go beyond a simple ‘good morning.’ People ask questions like ‘Did you sleep well?’ in languages such as Lugbarati (‘Mi afu ngoni?’), Luganda (‘Wasuze otya nno?’), or Kiswahili (‘Umeamkaje?’).
These inquiries highlight vulnerability, affirm presence, and prioritize the person over the time of day. Dr. Samuel Andema, a language and literacy education scholar, sees this as a profound cultural insight into relationships and community.
Despite shifts to competence-based curricula in Uganda and East Africa, literacy lessons often remain limited to reading passages, writing responses, and exam prep. Andema argues this overlooks students’ rich cultural backgrounds, including their greeting habits.
He proposes classroom activities like comparing greetings across languages to explore themes of well-being and respect. Students could practice structured exchanges, ask follow-ups, document local practices, and analyze meanings—building research, communication, and empathy skills.
Such approaches align with true competence-based education by linking school to life, fostering attention to others, responsibility, and relational living. Andema warns that exam-focused systems risk producing skilled test-takers who struggle with human connections.
The deepest educational truths, he says, lie in everyday practices like these greetings.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)