xynerise:
"How are you?" may sound polite to some group of people or culture but not to the African culture especially Nigeria.

Do you dare tell an elderly man or woman "How are you?" without getting this evil look and opened case in the community?

I was having this discussion with a friend and we started taking about the above topic then he told me;

Just imagine you saw a kid and call his name and the next comment he made was " Hey brother, how are you?"

Well, e sound somehow sha....

Does it actually shows disrespect or we Nigerians are just too respect conscious?

Only illiterates are offended by that.

how are u without a sir is a pure sign of disrespect whether in Nigeria or on planet mars, it is silly to think u can say how are u to both ur mates and ur seniors in the same way. try it once in a while with ur employer and u will learn a valuable lesson

Me: Goodmorning Sir
Elder: Hmm hmm, morning
Me: How are you doing today Sir (with a respectful smile)
Elder: I'm good.


Elder: Good morning my child. How are you today?
Me: I'm doing okay Sir. And how about you Sir?

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Elder: Goodmorning
Me: Morning. How are you?
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It has to do with how respectfully you say it and the body language. I presume saying 'How are you', you mean well.

presentation matters a lot
some say the word 'how are you' carelessly without addressing it with a sign of respect
so to me it doesn't mean a thing when an elderly person is been asked that. cause I say it most times with an iota of respect and lots of smiles

steppin:
African culture believes its disrespectful. We shouldn't always copy oyibo people all the time.

Lies,which African culture?say few African culture instead.In Sierra Leone,Senegal,Kenya and even by ur nose in some part of Nigeria elders/seniors including uncles and sometimes parents are called by name,i don't want to start e-wars,do your findings before saying 'african culture'.

DrogoG:


Only illiterates are offended by that.

Seconded

adonbilivit:
nothing is wrong with it. I can decide to wake up in the morning and not say good morning to my dad and instead say "Dad, how are you this morning?". must we be stereotypical?

Adonbilivit!!!

I am so glad for this topic and for some of the reasonable responses received. If am to comment i would say, everything is wrong with that. We are africans not americans that refer to their elderly ones by their first names like Mike, Jude, Stella, Lizzy, Richie, etc. Rather we are thought to use titles Uncle Mike, Aunty Stella, Mummy Joy(for elderly mothers), Papa, and to answer Sir, and Ma. etc
African have their culture. No matter how far civilization takes us, it will be so hard to civilized this aspect.
Language has a very big effect. There are better ways to ask an elderly person 'how are you' or use the word 'dear' as many do on facebook comments, than throwing it so sharply. Its belittling to an elder.

The tone determines....I ask, so I know how they are faring. I ask my parent in law's ...e me la gi? And they gladly respond. It opens up communication about them.

Africans like these dumb platitudes. Surprisingly, these "morals" haven't brought any semblance of advancement.

If you add Sir or Ma to the how are you,it will nil off whatever reservations the elderly person may have

I think it's more polite to say "How are you doing" when speaking to an older person.

Baawaa:
How are you in Yoruba means"bawo ni",so in Yoruba land you can't say "bawo ni" to your father ,mother and your elders

adding SIR/MA will make it sound respectful..e.g
How are you sir or bawo ni sir

This is Nigeria

lordm:
The clouds will always be above and the sand beneath

you get sense guy!

If you guys like, you should get scientific proof that it is wrong. For me, when I talk with my mom, I am always going to ask her a delibrate "How are you?" after greeting, cos I always want to know how she is doing. She shouldnt be the only one concerned about how I am doing.

modsRbastard:


Bro... I wonder why all this... I don't know who, wants to drive what's left of our culture into extinction.
I'm telling you...if you tell a typical elite yoruba man "how are you?", expect no lesser repose than "yi o bà yá ę" (your mom must be silly), sé o nbón si ni abi oun gó si?(are you getting wiser or more retardedd?) and sé wón kó ę ni, abi o duró gba ékó (weren't you trained/cultured or you didn't wait to be trained/cultured).

OP just don't try that thing with any Yoruba elder, it's Well indulged across the Niger.

Typically correct. "How are you" is a condescending form of greeting or reference.

The greeting of course is borrowed form England and its usage knows no class or strata but the application in Nigeria is different. That's what most of our "Akata" brothers who like to appear more western than westerners don't get.

Timelezz:


Typically correct. "How are you" is a condescending form of greeting or reference.

The greeting of course is borrowed form England and its usage knows no class or strata but the application in Nigeria is different. That's what most of our "Akata" brothers who like to appear more western than westerners don't get.

My brother!, it weakens me when I see people like the OP. Just look at the picture below, this one possibly never pass Elegushi shore oo

modsRbastard:


My brother!, it weakens me when I see people like the OP. Just look at the picture below, this one possibly never pass Elegushi shore oo

That one has tribal bigotry in full swing.

Don't be surprised he's the type who eats Garri with fork when he doesn't know there are many delicacies Westerners eat with their hands.

And these ignoramuses think they are progressive when in reality they are losing their identity and uniqueness.

No its not a sign of disrespect! The wrong tone is d sign of disrespect nt the word "how are you" I ask elders dat very well.

E.g ah sir it's bin long, how are you?

Aunty how are you na, have missed u oo

No right thinking person will take offence, they simply answer me well and ask me same back.

adonbilivit:
nothing is wrong with it. I can decide to wake up in the morning and not say good morning to my dad and instead say "Dad, how are you this morning?". must we be stereotypical?

yes do not copy western culture too much