Greetings Etiquette in Somalia

Greetings are usually warm and extended, with a handshake and a few polite questions about family and health before getting to the point, and it is respectful to greet the eldest or most senior person first. Men and women who are not close relatives often avoid direct physical contact, so a verbal greeting, a hand over the heart, or waiting for the other person to initiate a handshake is common, especially in more conservative settings.