Titles in Africa

I am helping a niece to connect to the Internet, to do her on-line schooling. Today she wrote -- I thought it was cute:

"Thnkz alcel tomas"

OBSERVATION: English may be her third language. Notice the title: Uncle Thomas. In Africa, one often uses titles, as a mark of respect. I sometimes -- coming from a different background -- forget to use titles. Even those quite close to me -- for example a brother-in-law -- will use titles, say Spali or Swaer. An elder may use Nyana. Even my equals in the family may use Reverend, or Pastoor, among other titles.