There are also innumerable open-air markets in smaller trading centers that are held on a weekly basis. Remember that even in cities, socializing before doing business is the general rule throughout East Africa. Language Language, of course, is the key to effectively entering another culture. If you speak English reasonably well, you will have an easy time in East Africa, since one of the official languages is English. It will help, though, even if you are staying only a few weeks, to begin studying Kiswahili the moment you arrive.
Greetings are an especially important part of African life.
In traditional societies, greetings can be quite lengthy, functioning both as a means of paying respect and as a way of communicating news about the community. In modern East Africa, greetings still tend to be important. For formal introductions, use English unless all the people involved share another language. In casual greetings, however, try out Swahili. There are a number of beginning Swahili books, and almost any travel guide will have a list of stock phrases.