Blog by a UK WECer – Janet Chalker in Côte d'Ivoire

Koné, the night watchman here at Hebron Bible Institute, is trying to get me to speak Jula – after years of neglect my handle on the language is in bad shape.

He always greets me in Jula:

You and the morning!

Peace be on you!

Are you well?

Yes, I am well.

And (how is) your ‘so mogow’?

Your 'so mogow' are the people (mogow) who share your house (so).

Here I answer, 'They are well.' Then the greeting continues with some blessings on the day ahead of you. I used to just go along with the formula, but one day I stopped halfway and said to Koné,

‘You always ask about my so mogow, but you know I live alone; I don’t have any so mogow! What is the right Jula response for that?'

'But your so mogow don’t actually have to live under your roof,’ he explained. ‘They can be your neighbours, your wider family – for you, even your relatives back in Australia count as your so mogow! When I greet you I’m asking after them too.

'Besides,’ he added, ‘You have Jesus. He’s the best so mogow.’