Fulani (people)

Fulani (people), people of Africa dispersed in varying, often sizeable, concentrations throughout the grassland areas of West Africa from Senegal and Guinea to Nigeria, Cameroon, and Chad. They are also known as Peuls (in French) or Fulbe (Pullo, singular) and are split into several sub-groups including Futa Jalon and Fulbe Jeeri. A nomadic people, they tend to be tall and slim and are often lighter skinned than neighbouring West African ethnic groups. Scarification (see Tattooing) is often performed on the faces of young Fulani.

They speak a set of nine closely related languages that developed from one language called Fulani (or Fulfulde in their language). Belonging to the Niger-Congo family, they include Pulaar, Adamawa Fulfulde, and Nigerian Fulfulde. The languages are closely related to those in Senegal, suggesting the possibility that their ancestors migrated from the Middle East through North Africa to Senegal. By the 10th century, the Fulani had adopted a new language in Senegal and had begun to spread eastwards, reaching present-day Nigeria by about the 14th century.

Traditionally most Fulani have been cattle herders, although today cattle are scarce and some Fulani are now agriculturalists, forcing them to be less nomadic. Through the centuries many settled down, successfully establishing a series of kingdoms between Senegal and Cameroon by the 19th century, and conquering the Hausa by about 1810. The Fulani held much of northern Nigeria in subjection until defeated (1900-1906) by the British. The religious beliefs of some of the cattle-herding Fulani are animistic, although the majority of Fulani are Muslim (and in fact the Fulani brought and spread Islam to West Africa) and have often justified their conquests on religious grounds, waging holy wars (jihads).