Be it French, Moore, Fulfulde or any other language in Burkina, conversation is punctuated by very specific non-verbal, vocalized expressions. These sounds are used as reactions to convey a range of emotions and statements. Here are a few Burkinabe-isms:

• "ah!", quick, slightly aspirated breath to signify shock: "you're planning to stay here, in Burkina for how long? two years? ah!"
• "tch! tch!", two-beat kissing of the teeth coupled with an emphatic side-to-side shaking of the head to convey lack of or lack of accordance with (vigorous wagging of the index finger can be added to indicate severity): "we have no french fries. tch! tch! potatoes aren't in season."
• "uh-huh!", deeply intoned, coupled with head nod on the downbeat, to demonstrate agreement with or arrival at comprehension (often followed by "voila!", drawn out to sounds more like "wallaaah!"): usually occurs mid-sentence,

Me: "So, you think I need a husband in Burkina..."

X: "Uh-huh!"

Me: "...because you want to go to America with me."

X: "Wallaaah!"

• "waaaaay", Oui (yes in French), stretched out to resemble "waaaaaaaay", rather than anything of French origin, simultaneously delivered with a forward gesture of the head, displays shock or disbelief and maybe mild amusement: "no, really? two years? here? in burkina? waaaaay!"
• "pooo-pooo-pooo", a crescendo inflection, which communicates disatisfation or disappointment (also accompaigned by the side-to-side shaking of the head and can be punctuated by two-beat click of the tongue): "you already have a fiancee in the US? poooo-poo-pooooo"

So, if you talk to me on the phone and you hear some strange noises coming from the other end of the line, have no fear, it's still me - just a little Burkina-fied. Practice them at home and you too can be "bien integré".