Virtues in the Vicissitude World: Humility and Modesty in Fulɓe Culture

Abstract

Virtues are generally cherished everywhere around the globe. Some of the virtues
are universal while others are relative to cultural variation. Fulɓe culture, like
many other cultures, sees humility and modesty as a virtue which the culture
enjoins everyone to imbibe. This paper focuses on the way this virtue is
represented in Fulɓe folklore which is a replica of the various practical ways of
promoting it in the Fulɓe cultural practices. Two Fulɓe folktales are analyzed in
the paper and the reflections of the virtue of humility and modesty were extracted.
The results of the analyses reveal that humility and modesty is not only a virtue
that is cherished among the Fulɓe but is the major characteristic of the Fulɓe
code of conduct (Pulaaku) covered under semteende. The result from the analysis
also reveals that, although some cultures may not value humility and modesty as
much as the Fulɓe do, it is a general virtue across many cultures and upholding
this virtue is encouraged in Islam which is the religion of most Fulɓe.