| "Kunya" is a Hausa word whose meaning
includes (at least) embarrassment, shame, modesty, and deference.
It is a feeling which certain social circumstances arouse. One
area where "kunya" is important is in social relations.
For example, in-laws feel "kunya" toward each other.
A son-in-law would not call his father-in-law by name, would
assume a kneeling position while greeting him, and so on. One
also feels "kunya" when publicly caught violating some
social restriction. This would be the case for Suhailu, who was
eating with his left hand. |
