KHARTOUM (Reuters) - If you are in Sudan it is a ‘missed call’. In Ethiopia it is a ‘miskin’ or a ‘pitiful’ call. In other parts of Africa it is a case of ‘flashing’, ‘beeping’ or in French-speaking areas ‘bipage’.

– Reuters

This was one of many insane things I noticed while in Nigeria last year. I can’t tell you how many conversations were interrupted by incessant phone calls. I’d ask my cousins why they weren’t picking up and the response was always “oh, he’s just trying to flash me.” It’s kind of funny really — from my understanding it’s put such a strain on the cell networks that MTN at least provides a free WAP push “this person is trying to get you to call them.”