Current Time in Togo
Togo's culture regarding time
Togo's culture regarding time
Flexible attitude toward time
In Togo, there is a concept of "African time," and it is common to arrive later than the scheduled time. This is not considered rude, and it is a flexible sense of time that takes into account daily life and traffic conditions.
The start time of meetings and events is a "guideline"
Even for official meetings and events, it is not uncommon for everyone to not be present at the start time, and it is not uncommon for the actual start to be 30 minutes to an hour after the scheduled time.
Activities are centered during the day
Due to the temperature, activities tend to be concentrated from early in the morning to midday, and after the evening, people tend to spend time with their family and community.
Togo's values regarding time
Human relationships take priority over time
In Togo, people tend to value connections with others more than time, and the other person rarely gets angry if you are late for a meeting. It is a culture in which continuing conversations and interactions takes priority.
Not rushing is considered "calm"
There is a value system that values doing things calmly rather than rushing. Therefore, actions that are rushed are not very respected.
Life rhythm follows nature
The sense of time that is in line with nature, where activities begin with sunrise and take it easy after sunset, is deeply rooted. This tendency is particularly strong in rural areas.
Things about time that foreigners should know when traveling or relocating to Togo
Don't expect things to proceed on time
Public institutions, events, and transportation often do not operate according to schedule, so you need to have a schedule with plenty of time. If you bring the Japanese sense of time as it is, you will easily feel stressed.
"Waiting" is a part of everyday life
There are often long waiting times at government offices and hospitals, so it is more comfortable to have ways to kill time, such as using your smartphone or reading.
Appointment times have a "range"
When making an appointment with a local person, it is a good idea to think of the appointment time as a "guideline". It is common for it to be 15 to 30 minutes late.
Interesting facts about time in Togo
Commonly known as "African Time"
"African Time" is a symbol of a culture that values relationships with people more than time, and is commonly accepted in Togo.
Traditional ceremonies can also start before dawn
Some traditional religious ceremonies and festivals start before sunrise in the dark and follow the rhythm of nature, so the "movement of the sun" is the basis, not the time.
Buses "leave when they are full"
In Togo, shared buses (taxi blues) are not based on a timetable and usually do not leave until they are full of passengers. This means that departure times are unpredictable, but on the other hand, it can also be said that travel is flexible.