This is such an accurate and well laid-out take on bargaining as a cultural practice. I am pleased at how well you frame it as a conversation rather than just a money exchange, because that’s exactly what it feels like in most Nigerian markets. The psychology, familiarity and even the performance of it all are things many of us grow up watching and learning almost instinctively.

All in all, I’ll admit that sometimes I find it a bit embarrassing when bargaining goes too far especially when it starts to feel less like healthy back and forth and more like trying to squeeze the seller dry. I think there’s a sweet spot between honoring the culture of negotiation and still respecting the value of someone’s labour. But, you’re right. Bargaining is deeply ingrained, and how someone does it often says a lot about their socialization and sense of identity.