A Nigerian in Japan Tried to Greet an Elder the ‘Nigerian’ Way—Here’s What Happened

Nigerians don’t play when it comes to respect. From dobale (full-body prostration) to kneeling, we’ve turned greetings into Olympic-level performances.

But what happens when you take that same energy to Japan—a country that also values respect but with very different rules? Chaos. Absolute chaos.

The Setup: One Innocent Greeting Gone Wrong

Meet Tunji, a fresh-off-the-plane Nigerian student in Japan. First day at his new university, trying to make a good impression. He walks into class, sees his professor—a distinguished-looking man in his 60s—and instinct kicks in. Before he can stop himself, he goes full Yoruba mode.

Hands by his side.

Knees slightly bent.

Next thing? Omo, Tunji don land for floor! Face down, full prostration like it’s his grandfather’s birthday.

For context, in Nigeria, this level of greeting is not even up for debate. If you don’t show proper respect, you might collect a “Have you seen me today?” look or even worse—a backhand reset.

The Reaction: Confusion. Panic. Global Incident?

You’d think his professor would be flattered by the grand display of respect. Instead? The man jumps back like Tunji just pulled out a juju calabash.

Students freeze. Someone gasps. Another student whispers, “Is he okay? Did he faint?” The professor looks around, alarmed. Why is this boy lying down in front of him? Is this a medical emergency?

One of Tunji’s classmates, a fellow international student, runs over in concern.

“Somebody call the nurse! He’s collapsing!”

The professor? Still standing there, horrified, probably thinking, “What did I do to this poor child? Did I insult his ancestors??”

Meanwhile, Tunji is just on the floor, wondering why nobody is greeting him back.

The Aftermath: The Great Cultural Negotiation

After some frantic explaining and a lot of hand gestures, the class finally understands: Tunji was not fainting. He was just being a proper Nigerian son.

The professor laughs nervously, pats him on the back, and tells him: “Next time, just bow a little. No need to… you know… sacrifice yourself.”

For the rest of the semester, Tunji becomes “The Guy Who Greeted Too Hard.” Whenever he enters a room, someone jokingly tries to prostrate in his honor.

And the professor? A week later, in the spirit of cultural exchange, he sees Tunji again and—

Bows. All the way to the floor.

Omo. Cultural tables have turned.

What Can We Learn?

This story proves one thing: culture is deep, and sometimes, it’s also hilarious.

Respect in Nigeria is dramatic and physical. In Japan, it’s subtle and precise. Both cultures value greetings, but the execution? VERY different.

The question is: should we adjust to other cultures, or should we spread our own traditions boldly?

What do you think? If you were in Tunji’s shoes, would you have gone full Nigerian or played it safe? Drop your thoughts in the comments!

Hey Luv, Wait. Feel More Crackko Vibe:

Explore more hilarious cultural mix-ups in our Culture Clashes category!