The way Nigerian parents greet visitors will never make sense to me

My mother's friend came to visit yesterday. Before the woman even sat down, my mother had asked her everything , where she stays, how her children are, if her husband still travels, why she looks thin, if she's eating well. The woman answered none of these questions fully because she was also asking my mother the same things at the same time. They were both talking and neither was listening. It went on for 45 minutes.

Then my mother turned to me and said, 'Emeka, why are you just sitting there? Greet your auntie properly.' I had already greeted her when she walked in. I had bowed and said 'Nne, welcome.' But apparently that was not enough. I had to stand up, shake her hand again, and ask after her children by name. My mother watched me like a hawk to make sure I did it right.

After the woman left, my mother said, 'That woman's first daughter is still not married. She is 32. Imagine.' And I'm thinking , you just spent 45 minutes exchanging pleasantries with her and you learned nothing about her actual life. But the moment she leaves, you have all the analysis ready. Nigerian parents are the original data miners. They collect information through greeting rituals.