Greetings are not small talk: etiquette in Côte d'Ivoire (handshakes, elders, greet first)

In Côte d'Ivoire (in West Africa, French-speaking, the world's largest cocoa producer), greetings are not a pleasantry you can skip before a meeting begins; they are part of the meeting itself. A proper greeting tells the other person that you respect them as a person, not just the order in their hands. Here is the greeting etiquette you will use most in business settings.

Greet first, then get down to business

Ivorians generally set great store by courtesy. When people meet, exchanging greetings and asking after each other's health, family or work is the natural way to begin; getting straight down to business as soon as you meet can easily come across as rude.

In practice, spend a few minutes talking about family, health or the weather before moving on to the matter at hand. When you visit someone's home or office, your host may first invite you to sit down and offer you a glass of water before asking how you are; this is part of hospitality, so simply accept.

Useful French phrases:

Bonjour, comment allez-vous ? (Hello, how are you?)
Et la famille, ça va ? (And how is the family?)
Vous avez fait bon voyage ? (Did you have a good trip? Suitable for someone who has just arrived)
Merci de me recevoir. (Thank you for receiving me.)

Handshake rules

Situation	Common practice
First meeting	Handshakes are fine for both men and women
Entering a room or gathering with several people	Shake hands with everyone present, one by one, even if you saw them an hour or two earlier
Leaving a social occasion	Likewise, shake hands with everyone one by one as you say goodbye
Women meeting again	May greet each other by touching cheeks alternately three times

When there are many people present, shaking hands with each in turn and exchanging a brief greeting is more appropriate than simply nodding to your main contact.

Elders and Muslim guests: details that matter

Respect your elders. Elders play an important role in families and communities; show them deference and avoid speaking to them in a commanding tone. When greeting, you can first acknowledge the oldest or most senior person present, address people as Monsieur or Madame with their title, and use vous.

Keep eye contact moderate. Customs vary between ethnic groups, but in general, staring at someone continuously or standing too close may be seen as impolite. A natural, soft gaze is enough; there is no need to keep your eyes fixed on the other person.

Use your right hand. With Muslims, avoid shaking hands, passing objects or handing food with your left hand, as the left hand is traditionally considered unclean. The simplest approach is to get into the habit of using your right hand.

Small-talk topics. Family, health, the weather and travel are safe openers; sensitive subjects such as politics and religion are best avoided at a first meeting.

Punctuality and gifts

Although greetings take time, it is still advisable to arrive on time for appointments, especially when invited to a social event or to someone's home. Gift-giving is also a common courtesy locally, particularly towards respected members of the community.

If you have brought a gift, give it at the start of the visit, right after the greetings, rather than producing it as you leave. It need not be expensive: a small souvenir from your home country or a useful item bearing your company logo are both suitable choices, such as tea from home or a small piece of local craft. If your host is Muslim, remember to avoid gifts containing alcohol.

One line for Asian teams

Treat greetings as the first item on the agenda; spend five extra minutes showing interest in the other person, and the discussion that follows will often go much more smoothly.

References: Countries and Their Cultures: Côte d'Ivoire; DLIFLC (US Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center): French-Côte d'Ivoire Cultural Orientation (2016); Oxford Business Group: Facts for visitors – Côte d'Ivoire