Fula people

The Fula is an ethnic group of people spread over many countries in West Africa, from Mauritania in the northwest to Cameroon in the east. In Nigeria and other countries, as well as in literature, they are usually called Fulani. They refer to themselves as Fulɓe (singular pullo). There are also many other ways others refer to them, including Foulah, Peulh, Peul, and Fulbe. A closely related group is the Tukolor (Toucouleur) in the central Senegal River valley.

History

The Fulani are traditionally a nomadic, pastoral community, herding cattle, goats and sheep across the vast dry hinterlands of their domain, keeping somewhat separate from the local agricultural populations. During the 16th century the Fula expanded through the sahel grasslands stretching from what is today Senegal to Sudan. Their military strength centered on powerful cavalry that could quickly move across the large empire and defeat rivals, but the Fulani could not expand southwards, as the horses could not withstand the diseases of those latitudes.

During the 19th century under Usman dan Fodio the Fulani became the leaders of a centralized Fulani Empire which continued until 1903 when the Fulani were divided up among European colonizers.

In the west, the Fouta Djallon located mainly in present day Guinea as well as parts of Guinea Bissau, Senegal, Sierra Leone was a major state with a written constitution and ruling alternance between the 2 main parties: the Soriya and the Alphaya. The Fouta Djallon state was born in 1735 when Fulani Muslims decided to rise against the non-Muslim Fulanis and Djalounkes rulers to create a confederation of provinces. Alpha Ibrahima Sory Maoudho was elected as the first Almaamy in 1735 at the capital Timbo in present day Guinea. The Fouta Djallon state lasted until 1898 when the French colonial troops defeated the last Almamy (Ruler) Bokar Biro Barry, dismantled the state and integrated it into their new colony of Rivières du Sud, which became Guinea.

Fulbe jihad states

A jihad state is a territory that was established by political and religious Muslim leaders who conquer a region by offensive war, invoking Jihad or holy war in accordance with Koranic injuctions. Fittingly, the rulers often assumed the honorific title of Emir, an Arabic title which can mean general as well as prince or governor, or a derivate in a local langage.

In particular, the term is historically used in reference to the 19th century Islamic conquests in Western Africa, especially the Fulbe jihad, a phrase referring to the state-founding jihad led by `Usuman dan Fodio in the first decade of the 19th century in and around Nigeria. Most of these states were in colonial times brought into the British Northern Nigeria Protectorate around 1901-1903.

Abuja, replacing the former Zuba; the ruler's title was Sarkin Zazzau, from 1828 also Emir
Adamawa (now partially in Cameroon), founded in 1809; title Baban-Lamido
Agaie, founded in 1822; title emir
Bauchi emirate, founded in 1805; title Lamido, a corruption of Emir
Gombe, founded in 1804; title Modibo Gombe.
Gwandu, a major Fulbe jihad state, founded in 1817; title Emir
Hadejia, replaces Biram (title Sarkin Biram) in 1805; new title Sarkin Hadejia, from 1808 also styled Emir
Jama`are, founded in 1811; style Emir.
Jema`an Darroro, founded in 1810; title Emir
Kano replaces the old (Hausa) Kano state in March 1807; the old title Sarkin Kano is still used, but now also styled Emir
Katagum, founded in 1807; title Sarkin Katagum, also styled Emir
Katsina replaces the old (Hausa) Katsina state in 1805; the old title Sarkin Katsina is stull used, but now also styled Emir.
Kazaure, founded in 1818; title Emir, also styled Sarkin *Arewa (apparently imitating neighbours)
Keffi, founded in 1802; title Emir
Lafiagi, founded in 1824; new title Emir
Lapai, founded in 1825; style Emir
Mubi, founded in 18..; title Emir
Muri, founded in 1817, style Emir; 1892-1893 de facto French protectorate, 1901 part of Northern Nigerian British protectorate
Sokoto, the center of the Fulbe jihad, established on 21 February 1804 by ..., title Amir al-Mu´minin, also styled Lamido Julbe; on 20 April 1817 Sokoto is styled sultanate (title sultan, also styled Amir al-Mu´minin and Sarkin Musulmi), the suzerain of all Fulbe jihad states; in 1903 the British occupy Sokoto Sultanate
Zaria, superseded the old Zazzau state (title Sarkin Zazzau) on 31 December 1808; new style first Malam, since October/November 1835 Emir, also styled Sarkin Zaria and Sarkin Zazzau

Culture

They speak the Pulaar language, also referred to as Fulfulde, or variants thereof, as do the Tukulorɓɓ; all local people who speak that language natively are known as the "halpulaar", which stands for "speakers of Pulaar". "Hal" is derived from the Pulaar verb "haalugol", meaning "to speak".

Some also speak other languages: Portuguese and Kriol in Guinea-Bissau; French in Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Cameroon, Senegal, and Central African Republic; and English in Cameroon, Ghana, and Nigeria. The traditional dress of the Fula in most places is long colorful flowing robes, modestly embroidered or otherwise decorated. Most Fula in the countryside spend long times alone on foot, moving their herds. They are the only major migrating people of West Africa, though most Fula now live in towns or villages.

The Fula have a rich musical culture and play a variety of traditional instruments including drums, hoddu (a plucked skin-covered lute similar to a banjo), and riti or riiti (a one-string bowed instrument similar to a violin), in addition to vocal music. The well known Senegalese popular musician Baaba Maal is Fula, and he sings in Pulaar on his recordings.

Notes

References

Almanach de Bruxelles (now a paying site)
Gordon, Raymond G., Jr. (ed.) (2005): "Adamawa Fulfulde". Ethnologue: Languages of the World, 15th ed. Dallas: SIL International. Accessed 25 June 2006.
Ndukwe, Pat I., Ph.D. (1996). Fulani. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.
WorldStatesmen - here Nigerian Traditional states

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History

Fulbe jihad states

Culture

Notes

References

See also