Taboos hinder Nigerian census-takers

AP ^ | March 24, 2006 | Michelle Faul

[ConservativeStatement]

ABUJA, Nigeria --It's considered bad luck to ask a Yoruba how many children the family has. Asking a herdsman about his cows or camels likely will get you shown the door. And what is a male census worker to do when Muslim women are home alone?

Nearly a million census officials are trying to count heads in Africa's most populous nation, estimated to number anywhere from 120 million to 160 million. The sprawling country has a plethora of social and other taboos, and its 250 tribes speak as many languages -- just some of the obstacles that have stymied previous attempts at an accurate count.

[ClearCase_guy]

They just need an incentive to get over the taboo and answer the question.

Send an email to their huts and say that the brother-in-law of the President of the United States, has left $40M in an account for them, if they will reveal how many children they have.

[wmileo]

This is a country which does not give a second thought to the slaughter of Christians like they were rats. But don't ask them how many children they have!!! Nigeria may be the most populous non civilized country in the world

[Parmenio]

"And what is a male census worker to do when Muslim women are home alone?

Don't count them?

[Parmenio]

"And what is a male census worker to do when Muslim women are home alone?

Don't count them?

[Parmenio]

At the least don't count them twice. LOL.

[mysterio]

Easily solved. They know how many adults there are. All they need to do is count the email scams and subtract the known number of adults from that number. The remaining number is the number of children. Of course, this assumes that each Nigerian is only involved in one email scam, so my strategy is probably not sound.

[dhuffman@awod.com]

Taboos will shortly hinder American Census-takers. Heh heh heh.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Census Taker. I'd prefer not to stand here on my doorstep so please step inside. Oh, first I'll have to put away my guns...'cept this one."

[Old North State]

With good numbers or bad, what will happen when the census is complete? My guess is nothing at all. They must be scamming some World Bank money for this worthless undertaking.

[Jack Black]

This is a country which does not give a second thought to the slaughter of Christians like they were rats. But don't ask them how many children they have!!! It's not the country that is slaughtering Christians, it's the moslem insurgents, as always.

Nigeria may be the most populous non civilized country in the world

Maybe but you have to appreciate them telling busy body civil servants to go pound sand. They are not all sheep, which I at least appreciate.

The 2000 census worker got her answer to how many people live here but I refused to asnwer all there absurd questions. She came back the third time and tried to get my 10 year old to answer her questions.

The Yoruba are a very civilized people.

[mysterio]

They have to know how many people there are so they know how much to ramp up their internet infrastructure. Wouldn't want it to collapse from all of that outgoing email.

Well, I better get off of here. I just found out that I had this relative in Nigeria who was worth 50 million dollars. Barrister Charles Kwame says he'll split it with me since I'm the only surviving relative.

[wmileo]

"Maybe but you have to appreciate them telling busy body civil servants to go pound sand."

I do.