| |
|
|
Tribe Snapshots Fulani |
| Location: |
Guinea-Conakry, Burkina Faso, Mali, Nigeria,
Niger, Cameroon, Chad |
| Population: |
n/a |
| Language: |
Pulaar, Fulfulde |
| Neighboring
Peoples: |
Tuareg, Hausa |
| Types
of Art: |
n/a |
| History: |
Fulani are a nomadic peoples who have been influential
in regional politics, economics, and histories
throughout western Africa for over a thousand
years. They played a significant role in the rise
and fall of the Mossi states in Burkina and also
contributed to the migratory movements of people
southward through Niger and Nigeria into Cameroon.
They were also responsible for introducing and
spreading Islam throughout much of western Africa.
The height of the Fulani empire was between the
early 1800s and early 1900s. This power was consolidated
under Usman dan Fodio and was centered in northern
Nigeria. Dan Fodio was a devout Muslim who used
religious fervor to ignite his troops to undertake
a series of holy wars. Following the early success
of Islamic warriors, non-Islamic Fulani joined
ranks with their fellows to form an extensive
and powerful empire. |
| Economy: |
Fulani are mainly nomadic herders and traders.
The routes they established in western Africa
provided extensive links throughout the region
that fostered economic and political ties between
otherwise isolated ethnic groups. Dairy products
produced from Fulani cattle were traded to sedentary
farmers for agricultural products and luxury items.
Fulani traders then traded these luxury items
between various groups along their nomadic routes.
Members of individual Fulani clans often settled
down among their sedentary neighbors, intermarrying
and establishing trading contacts for future business
transactions. |
| Political
Systems: |
The two most significant factors in Fulani political
systems are clientage and competition. In order
to gain political office a Fulani man would have
to compete among his fellows for the right to
rule. He could show his political favor by demonstrating
that he had a large following in the form of individuals
and families. By agreeing to become the client
of a powerful man or family, a subject would offer
tribute in the form of gifts and political support
in exchange for the security of knowing that a
person with political power would be looking out
for the interests of the subject. |
| Religion: |
Fulani religion is largely, if not wholly, Islamic.
Although there are varying degrees of orthodoxy
exhibited throughout Fulani society, most adhere
to at least some of the basic requirements of
the religion. It is usually the case that the
wealthy and powerful are among the most religious,
while those who have fewer resources are less
likely to observe their religion so strictly.
Islam has been used to justify the holy jihads
that brought the northern territories of modern
day Nigeria under Fulani leadership. It was not
unusual that such political and economic gains
would be made for the Fulani empire in the name
of Islam. |
|
|
|
|
|
| Privacy
notices ||| © AfricanStreetKids.com ||| Copyright notices
|||
|
|
|
