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.