Adriana Myland is currently pursuing her PhD in Social Anthropology. Her research interests include Hausa culture in Kano, Nigeria, the anthropology of emotion, gender and religion. Supervisors: Maya Unnithan and Pamela Kea
The purpose of this study is to analyse the concept of kunya in relation to Hausa Muslim women in... more The purpose of this study is to analyse the concept of kunya in relation to Hausa Muslim women in Kano, Nigeria, to understand their life from their experiences of kunya, and to identify its relation to the role of honour and shame. Kunya can be defined as multiple interrelated emotions such as shame, embarrassment, bashfulness, and shyness. Kunya can also refer to modesty, rudeness, and disgrace. An emphasis on kunya as modesty will largely be the focus of this paper in order to clearly define what this means for women who have been misrepresented previously as having a “hidden muted autonomy” (Callaway 1984, 449). An examination of the boundaries of the public/private dichotomy of space in the practice of matan kulle (gender segregation) is the primary way to understand the Hausa women’s embodiment of kunya. This dichotomy is integral to knowing what it means to be Hausa, and to understanding the role of honour and shame in their relationships. The Hausa display of kunya indicates a necessity for cultivating and preserving modesty—a key aspect of Hausa women’s identity within the community.
The purpose of exploring shame in the context of Nigeria with emphasis on the North and Middle Be... more The purpose of exploring shame in the context of Nigeria with emphasis on the North and Middle Belt will show how interfaith community is an avenue to restore women’s honour. Examining how shame manifests in Nigeria’s history and social structure explains the embeddedness of shame in the experience of Muslim and Christian women amidst religious division. An interfaith community centre in the Middle Belt exemplifies how honour occurs through relationships and the significant need to openly address shame. A theological and cultural anthropological perspective provides ways for engaging in mission and the valuable role of women in interfaith community.
The purpose of this study is to analyse the concept of kunya in relation to Hausa Muslim women in... more The purpose of this study is to analyse the concept of kunya in relation to Hausa Muslim women in Kano, Nigeria, to understand their life from their experiences of kunya, and to identify its relation to the role of honour and shame. Kunya can be defined as multiple interrelated emotions such as shame, embarrassment, bashfulness, and shyness. Kunya can also refer to modesty, rudeness, and disgrace. An emphasis on kunya as modesty will largely be the focus of this paper in order to clearly define what this means for women who have been misrepresented previously as having a “hidden muted autonomy” (Callaway 1984, 449). An examination of the boundaries of the public/private dichotomy of space in the practice of matan kulle (gender segregation) is the primary way to understand the Hausa women’s embodiment of kunya. This dichotomy is integral to knowing what it means to be Hausa, and to understanding the role of honour and shame in their relationships. The Hausa display of kunya indicates a necessity for cultivating and preserving modesty—a key aspect of Hausa women’s identity within the community.
The purpose of exploring shame in the context of Nigeria with emphasis on the North and Middle Be... more The purpose of exploring shame in the context of Nigeria with emphasis on the North and Middle Belt will show how interfaith community is an avenue to restore women’s honour. Examining how shame manifests in Nigeria’s history and social structure explains the embeddedness of shame in the experience of Muslim and Christian women amidst religious division. An interfaith community centre in the Middle Belt exemplifies how honour occurs through relationships and the significant need to openly address shame. A theological and cultural anthropological perspective provides ways for engaging in mission and the valuable role of women in interfaith community.
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