Why do Nigerians talk so loudly?

But there are situations where shouting or raising one’s voice benefits nobody – such as in conversations. However, this is where Nigerians often choose to indulge. Have you been to shopping with someone who shouts at the top his voice while telling a story? I have – several times, in a foreign land to boot! […]

But there are situations where shouting or raising one’s voice benefits nobody – such as in conversations. However, this is where Nigerians often choose to indulge. Have you been to shopping with someone who shouts at the top his voice while telling a story? I have – several times, in a foreign land to boot! Of course he’s oblivious of the startled stares and the anxious glances of foreigners who have – unfortunately – already formed a stereotype of us as wild people. Sometimes, the foreigners think you’re fighting and would ask if everything is okay.
Sometimes, we try to give this behavior a positive spin: knowing your right, confidence, virility, authoritative, outgoing, and so forth, but you can be all of these without raising your voice or being brassy.
There was a video of Nigerians in Malaysia posted on Youtube by a Malaysian. The man was clearly troubled for so long with the weekly ritual of the Nigerian community at his university who usually gathered together after the Jumu’at prayers to share stories about home, which was okay; except that they’re doing it loudly.
Apparently, the man found it difficult to simply advise our people to stop (because Malaysians hate confrontations), thus he called attention to the behavior by posting a video of Nigerians on Youtube. Trust our people, they found that objectionable, but some of us quickly intervened and asked us to look inwards and ruminate if indeed we’re too loud. Some agreed that they were loud, “but that’s who we are and we shouldn’t allow our living in a foreign land to change us or even care about what the locals think of us” they argued.
But even by African standards where virility is treasured, I’ve not seen any culture which encourages its people to be loud in simple conversations -especially when the audience is not hearing-impaired. Some of us who are conscious of this behaviour try to correct their compatriots – a very difficult task for obvious reasons. Sometimes it’s just too embarrassing to tell your friend to keep his voice down when he’s engrossed in telling a story; sometimes, you don’t want him to be offended – especially if you’re not close enough to joke about it. Also, it’s easy to correct in some circumstances than others; e.g. at the mosque where there’s a general understanding that you’re not supposed to raise your voice there; if you’ve finished your prayers, they’re others in the mosque who have not. Therefore, one can easily say “hey people, please lower your voices; let’s not disturb the worshippers.” But it is difficult elsewhere.
So, for many years, while I prayed that some of my friends would lower their volume, I often wondered why we’re easily the loudest in a gathering. I tried to explain it to myself for a long time but nothing made sense until I had a revelation – sort of an epiphany – one Friday afternoon.
After the Friday prayers, we gathered, as usual, to discuss some topical issues happening at home. The problem we “chose” to discuss was a controversial one, so everybody – again as usual – had their own perspectives and wouldn’t wait for their brothers to finish talking before having their own turn. I also joined the fray because I thought I had an insightful take on the issue, therefore, I deserved to be heard; but then I realized that almost all of us were talking at the same time. So I stepped back to observe the proceedings. Then a learning jumped mind: every one of us has an opinion. Everyone wants their own opinion to be heard first. It’s not possible to hear every one at once, so we compete by raising our voices. And because it’s become our habit, we still talk loudly when nobody is competing with us. There you have it!
It’s a simple explanation, but I had never thought about it like that before. Of course many of our compatriots don’t know we have this problem. So for some of my friends reading this, this is the best way I can tell you. And when I begin nodding to everything you say, it’s not agreement; I’m simply pleading with you loudly in silence to lower your voice.