Origins:
The history of the Fulani seems to begin with the Berber people of North Africa around the 8th or 11th century AD. As the Berbers migrated down from North Africa and mixed with the peoples in the Senegal region of West Africa the Fulani people came into existence. Over a thousand year period from AD 900 - 1900, they spread out over most of West Africa and even into some areas of Central Africa. Some groups of Fulani have been found as far as the western borders of Ethiopia. As they migrated eastward they came into contact with different African tribes. As they encountered these other peoples, they conquered the less powerful tribes. Along the way many Fulani completely or partially abandoned their traditional nomadic life in favor of a sedentary existence in towns or on farms among the conquered peoples. The nomadic Fulani continued eastward in search of the best grazing land for their cattle. Their lives revolved around and were dedicated to their herds. The more cattle a man owned, the more respect he was given. Today, some estimate as many as 18 million Fulani people stretch across the countries of West Africa. They remain to be the largest group of nomadic people in the world.
Religion and Beliefs:
The Fulani were one of the first African tribes to convert to Islam and are today more than 99% Muslim. The devoutly Muslim Fulani have seen themselves as the propagators and preservers of the Islamic faith in West Africa from as early as the fourteenth century. Historically it was a Fulani chief namedUsuman dan Fodio, along with nomadic Fulani herdsmen who were instrumental in facilitating the spread of Islam across West Africa through evangelism and conquest. At times they would wage "holy wars" orjihadin order to extend and purify Islam. As the Fulani migrated eastward they spread their Islamic beliefs. As they became more powerful and attained more wealth they began to be more aggressive with their religion. Their adoption of Islam increased their feeling of cultural and religious superiority to surrounding peoples, and that adoption became a major ethnic boundary marker. Some settled in towns and quickly became noted as outstanding Islamic clerics, joining the highest ranking Berbers and Arabs. Today it is difficult to find any Fulani who admits to not being Muslim, no matter how lax his or her practice may be. To a Fulani person: to be Fulani is to be a Muslim. Although they adhere very strongly to the tenants of Islam, it has been surprising to find a high level of belief that certain people possess supernatural powers. Like other West Africans, Fulani will frequent local religious practitioners who have established reputations for their curative powers. Many such practitioners - witch doctors and medicine men - are also Muslim religious leaders. It is common to hear a Fulani tell stories of those who have the power to move themselves from one place to another supernaturally or perhaps to do harm to another person through some sort of supernatural power or curse.
Appearance:
The Fulani are usually very easy to recognize. They are taller, slimmer and lighter skinned that many of their African neighbors. Often times they are referred to as "white" by other Africans. Fulani men are often seen wearing a solid color of shirt and pants, a long cloth wrapped around their faces, carrying their walking sticks across their shoulders with their arms resting on top of it. Often the men have markings on either side of their faces and/or on their foreheads. They received these markings as children. The Fulani women are very graceful. They are seen carrying their milk products stacked in tiers on their heads in calabash bowls. Their clothes often have a background color of yellow and/or red. Their hair is long and is braided into 5 long braids that either hang from their heads or sometimes are looped on the sides. It is common for the women and girls to have coins attached to their braids. Some of these coins are very old and have been passed down in the family. The women enjoy wearing many bracelets on their wrists. Like the men, the women have markings on their faces around their eyes and mouths that they were given as children.
EconomyWhile the Fulani in some countries across West Africa have thrived, those in Niger and Burkina Faso have struggled along with their neighbors. Most simply do well enough to provide the basic requirements for living. Most homes are very simple shelters. Their wardrobes consist of only two or three outfits. Their meals provide only minimal nutritional requirements at best. There are few things provided beyond the tools or equipment needed to carry out their tasks. The Fulani have long been in the cattle business. For centuries to be a Fulani meant to be a cattle owner. However, due to the increasing hardships; famine, drought and poverty, many no longer own cattle. But for a majority, they still own at least a small number of animals, whether that be the cherished cow, sheep or goats. Often times those that do not own any animals will hire out to herd for others. The cattle are raised to sell only when necessary. Most Fulani would not choose to eat beef. Yet as need arises, they will sell a steer to provide their family with required cash. Milk and milk products are highly valued - even more than the meat of cows. For the typical Fulani, "kossam kecum", fresh milk, or "pendidum", soured milk are delicious treats. Therefore, many of the Fulani sell milk and milk by-products. The Wodabe Fulani of Eastern Niger are among the pure nomadic herders. They seek to find pasture for their herds just south of the Sahara Desert. Some are being forced to find other means of support. However, for most Wodabe to farm is a rejection of their heritage. The Jelgooji of Eastern Burkina Faso too have clung to the tradition of herding more tenaciously than many other groups, yet they tend to be more semi-nomadic. Many of the Fulani have taken a more sedentary life and in addition to herding they farm. The farming is mostly a subsistence type of raising crops. Those in Western Niger mostly farm millet, a fairly nutritious grain which grows well in the hot dry climate. The farming takes place during the rainy season. Just after the first rains they will plant their fields, usually around late May or early June. Long hours are spent all through the rainy season "hoeing" the weeds. They harvest their millet in September and October. Most of the grain is stored on the stalk in small storage houses near their compounds. They will sell some to get money for immediate needs. A source of conflict arises from time to time between herders and farmers. When the cattle wander into the fields during the growing season and eat or trample the crops due to the herders' lack of attention, tensions rise. However, most of the time a workable agreement exists between the two as the farmer knows the manure will aide his crop production. He readily allows the cattle to graze in his fields after he has harvested and prior to planting.
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