variations on a theme

in the south of ghana, in twi-land, it goes this way:

obruni coco machi 

in the north, the song the children sing goes this way:

nansala, how are you, we are fine, thank you

today as i walked down the street, i was greeted from a distance by children i could not yet even see, with the little chant.  

nansala, how are you, we are fine, thank you

over and over it repeats itself.
and like any fine piece of music, though the chorus remains the same, the verses may change slightly.  

good evening, how are you, i am fine.

afternoon, how are you, i am fine.

good evening, fine.

fine evening.

how.

personally, i have grown to appreciate the shorter versions, when the person skips all the excess and goes from greeting to answer without bothering for the question.  
although, truly, my favorite, was from one of our trainers.  he skipped all the nonsense.  his greeting went, simply enough: joy, how? my answer: fine.
the children, though, their chorus never changes: 

nansala, how are you, we are fine, thank you. nansala, how are you, we are fine, thank you.

if i interrupt them mid-song, perhaps ask them how THEY are, they stare at me, shocked and amazed and terribly confused.