As I poured the water over my head, I cried. And hated that I enjoyed it so much."
-- Dantala/Ahmad (Back to Sokoto )

Importance: This quote captures the conflicted feelings of guilt, shame, and pleasure that Dantala has toward his first act of masturbation. The act of pouring water over his head is symbolic of his need to purify and cleanse himself.

Other times there is a Hausa phrase that I have never heard before, like Majalisar Dinkin Duniya, which BBC English calls United Nations. If I had not heard the Englihs, I would have translated it to mean ‘Association of Joining the World.’ But then if I had heard United Nations I would have called it Dinkakun Kasashe in Hausa."
-- Dantala/Ahmad (Words)

Importance: In this quote, Dantala observes the different ways that "United Nations" could and does get translated into Hausa. His observation is comical. To many English ears, "Association of Joining the World" sounds overly formal and...