Say what you actually want, early
It feels awkward to bring up intentions on date two, but it saves months of guessing. If you want something serious, say so. The right person will be relieved you did.
Family is part of the deal
In a lot of African households, you're not just dating one person — you're being measured up by aunties too. Learn each other's traditions, bring family in at the right moment, and treat the differences as something interesting, not a problem to solve.
Talk about faith honestly
Faith matters deeply to a lot of people, and it's better to know early whether you line up. You don't need to believe identically, but you do need to understand what the other person can't compromise on.
Keep showing up after the spark
Consistency beats grand gestures. Check in, plan real dates, remember the small stuff, mark the milestones. Relationships grow when someone keeps choosing them.