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Fula or Fulani or Fulbe (the latter being an Anglicisation
Anglicisation

Anglicisation or anglicization is a process of conversion of verbal or written elements of any other language into a more comprehensible English language for an English speaker....
 of the word in their language, Fule) are an ethnic group of people spread over many countries, predominantly in West Africa
West Africa

West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the United Nations subregion of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries distributed over an area of approximately 5 million square km:...
, but found also in Central Africa
Central Africa

Central Africa is a core region of the African continent often considered to include Burundi, the Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda....
 and Sudanese North Africa
North Africa

North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, separated by the Sahara from Sub-Saharan Africa.Geopolitically, the United Nations subregion of Northern Africa includes the following seven countries or territories:...
. The countries in Africa where they are present include Mauritania
Mauritania

Mauritania , officially the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, is a country in northwest Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the west, by Senegal on the southwest, by Mali on the east and southeast, by Algeria on the northeast, and by the Morocco-controlled Western Sahara on the northwest....
, Senegal
Senegal

Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal, is a country south of the S?n?gal River in West Africa. Senegal is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Mauritania to the north, Mali to the east, and Guinea and Guinea-Bissau to the south....
, Guinea
Guinea

Guinea, officially Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa formerly known as French Guinea. The country's current population is estimated at 10,211,437 ....
, The Gambia
The Gambia

The Gambia commonly known as Gambia, is a country in West Africa. The Gambia is the smallest country in Africa, enclave by Senegal, and has a small coast on the Atlantic Ocean in the west....
, Mali
Mali

Mali, officially the Republic of Mali, is a landlocked nation in West Africa. Mali is the seventh largest country in Africa, bordering Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the C?te d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west....
, Nigeria
Nigeria

Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federation constitutional republic comprising States of Nigeria and one Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria....
, Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone, officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea in the northeast, Liberia in the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean in the southwest....
, Benin
Benin

Benin , officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north; its short coastline to the south leads to the Bight of Benin....
, Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso , also known by its short-form name Burkina, is a landlocked nation in West Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the south east, Togo and Ghana to the south, and C?te d'Ivoire to the south west....
, Guinea Bissau, Cameroon
Cameroon

The Republic of Cameroon is a unitary state of central and western Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south....
, Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire

, formerly Ivory Coast, officially the , is a country in West Africa. The government officially discourages the use of the name Ivory Coast in English, preferring the French name to be used in all languages ....
, Niger
Niger

Niger , officially the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east....
, Togo
Togo

Togo is a narrow country in West Africa bordering Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lom? is located....
, the Central African Republic
Central African Republic

The Central African Republic , is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It borders Chad in the north, Sudan in the east, the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the south, and Cameroon in the west....
, Ghana
Ghana

The Republic of Ghana is a country in West Africa. It borders C?te d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south....
, Liberia
Liberia

Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country on the west coast of Africa, bordered by Sierra Leone, Guinea, C?te d'Ivoire, and the Atlantic Ocean....
, and as far as Sudan
Sudan

Sudan is a country in northeastern Africa. It is the largest in the African continent and the Arab World, and List of countries and outlying territories by total area by area....
 in the east. Fulas are not a majority in every country they live, but in Guinea they represent a plurality of the population (largest single group).

e are also many names (and spellings of the names) used in other languages to refer to the Fule.






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Encyclopedia


Fula or Fulani or Fulbe (the latter being an Anglicisation
Anglicisation

Anglicisation or anglicization is a process of conversion of verbal or written elements of any other language into a more comprehensible English language for an English speaker....
 of the word in their language, Fule) are an ethnic group of people spread over many countries, predominantly in West Africa
West Africa

West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the United Nations subregion of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries distributed over an area of approximately 5 million square km:...
, but found also in Central Africa
Central Africa

Central Africa is a core region of the African continent often considered to include Burundi, the Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda....
 and Sudanese North Africa
North Africa

North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, separated by the Sahara from Sub-Saharan Africa.Geopolitically, the United Nations subregion of Northern Africa includes the following seven countries or territories:...
. The countries in Africa where they are present include Mauritania
Mauritania

Mauritania , officially the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, is a country in northwest Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the west, by Senegal on the southwest, by Mali on the east and southeast, by Algeria on the northeast, and by the Morocco-controlled Western Sahara on the northwest....
, Senegal
Senegal

Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal, is a country south of the S?n?gal River in West Africa. Senegal is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Mauritania to the north, Mali to the east, and Guinea and Guinea-Bissau to the south....
, Guinea
Guinea

Guinea, officially Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa formerly known as French Guinea. The country's current population is estimated at 10,211,437 ....
, The Gambia
The Gambia

The Gambia commonly known as Gambia, is a country in West Africa. The Gambia is the smallest country in Africa, enclave by Senegal, and has a small coast on the Atlantic Ocean in the west....
, Mali
Mali

Mali, officially the Republic of Mali, is a landlocked nation in West Africa. Mali is the seventh largest country in Africa, bordering Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the C?te d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west....
, Nigeria
Nigeria

Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federation constitutional republic comprising States of Nigeria and one Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria....
, Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone, officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea in the northeast, Liberia in the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean in the southwest....
, Benin
Benin

Benin , officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north; its short coastline to the south leads to the Bight of Benin....
, Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso , also known by its short-form name Burkina, is a landlocked nation in West Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the south east, Togo and Ghana to the south, and C?te d'Ivoire to the south west....
, Guinea Bissau, Cameroon
Cameroon

The Republic of Cameroon is a unitary state of central and western Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south....
, Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire

, formerly Ivory Coast, officially the , is a country in West Africa. The government officially discourages the use of the name Ivory Coast in English, preferring the French name to be used in all languages ....
, Niger
Niger

Niger , officially the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east....
, Togo
Togo

Togo is a narrow country in West Africa bordering Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lom? is located....
, the Central African Republic
Central African Republic

The Central African Republic , is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It borders Chad in the north, Sudan in the east, the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the south, and Cameroon in the west....
, Ghana
Ghana

The Republic of Ghana is a country in West Africa. It borders C?te d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south....
, Liberia
Liberia

Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country on the west coast of Africa, bordered by Sierra Leone, Guinea, C?te d'Ivoire, and the Atlantic Ocean....
, and as far as Sudan
Sudan

Sudan is a country in northeastern Africa. It is the largest in the African continent and the Arab World, and List of countries and outlying territories by total area by area....
 in the east. Fulas are not a majority in every country they live, but in Guinea they represent a plurality of the population (largest single group).

One people, many names

There are also many names (and spellings of the names) used in other languages to refer to the Fule. Fulani in English is borrowed from the Hausa
Hausa language

Hausa is the Chadic languages with the largest number of speakers, spoken as a first language by about 24 million people, and as a second language by about 15 million more....
 term. Fula, from Manding languages
Manding languages

The Manding languages are a fairly mutually intelligible group of dialects or languages in West Africa, belonging to the Mande languages. Their best-known members are Bambara language , Mandinka language , Maninka language , and Dioula language Smaller languages/dialects belonging to the group include Xaasongaxango language....
 is also used in English, and sometimes spelled Fulah or Foulah. Fula and Fulani are commonly used in English, including within Africa. The French borrowed the Wolof
Wolof language

Wolof is a language spoken in Senegal, The Gambia, and Mauritania, and it is the native language of the ethnic group of the Wolof people. Like the neighboring language Fula language, it belongs to the Atlantic languages of the Niger-Congo languages....
 term Pël, which is variously spelled: Peul, Peulh, and even Peuhl. More recently the Fulfulde / Pulaar
Fula language

The Fula language is a language of West Africa, spoken by the Fula people from Senegambia and Guinea to Cameroon and Sudan. It is also spoken as the first language by the Tukulor in the Senegal River Valley and as a second language by peoples in other areas....
 term Fule, which is a plural noun (singular, Pullo) has been adapted to English as Fulbe, which some people use. In Portuguese it's Fula or Futafula.

Related groups


A closely related group is the Tukolor
Toucouleur

The Toucouleurs are a Fula people agricultural people who live primarily in the north of Senegal in the Senegal River valley, Mauritania, Mali and Guinea....
 (Toucouleur) in the central Senegal River
Sénégal River

The S?n?gal River is a 1790 km long river in West Africa, that forms the border between Senegal and Mauritania. It was called Bambotus by Pliny the Elder and Nias by Claudius Ptolemy....
 valley. These people are often referred to together with Fule of the region as Haalpulaar'en (Pulaar-speakers).

Fula society in some parts of West Africa features the "caste"
Caste system in Africa

Countries in Africa who have societies with caste systems within their borders include Mali, Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Niger, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Algeria, Nigeria, Chad, Ethiopia, and Somalia....
 divisions typical of the region. In Mali
Mali

Mali, officially the Republic of Mali, is a landlocked nation in West Africa. Mali is the seventh largest country in Africa, bordering Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the C?te d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west....
, for instance, those who are not ethnically Fula have been referred to as yime pulaaku (people of the Fula culture).

The Woaae
Wodaabe

The Wodaabe are a small subgroup of the Fulani ethnic group. They are traditionally nomadic cattle-herders and traders in the Sahel, with migrations stretching from southern Niger, through northern Nigeria, northeastern Cameroon, and the western region of the Central African Republic....
, also known as the Bororo, are a subgroup of the Fula people.

Traditional livelihood

The Fulani are traditionally a nomadic, pastoralist
Pastoralism

File:Nomadic Camping .jpgPastoralism or pastoral farming is the branch of agriculture concerned with the raising of livestock. It is animal husbandry: the care, tending and use of animals such as camels, goats, cattle, yaks, llamas, sheep, and so forth....
, trading
Trade

Tradeis the willing exchange of goods, Service , or both. Trade is also called commerce. A mechanism that allows trade is called a market. The original form of trade was barter , the direct exchange of goods and services....
 people, herding cattle
Cattle

Cattle, colloquially referred to as cows, are domestication ungulates, a member of the subfamily Bovinae of the family Bovidae. They are raised as livestock for meat , dairy products , leather and as draft animals ....
, goat
Goat

The domestic goat is a subspecies of goat domesticated from the wild goat of southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the Bovidae family and is closely related to the sheep: both are in the goat-antelope subfamily Caprinae....
s and sheep
Sheep

#REDIRECT Domestic sheep...
 across the vast dry hinterlands of their domain, keeping somewhat separate from the local agricultural populations.

History

Nsrw Africa Fulah Girl

Origins and spread

While some have speculated over the origin of Fulani people, current linguistic and genetic evidence suggests an indigenous West African origin among the Peul. The vast majority of genetic lineages associated with them reflect those most commonly seen in other west Africans. Their language is also of west African origin, most closely related to that of the Wolof
Wolof people

The Wolof are an ethnic group found in Senegal, The Gambia, and Mauritania.In Senegal, the Wolof form an ethnic plurality with about 40% of the population self-identifying as Wolof....
 and Serer
Serer

The Serer languages are a group of languages spoken by the Serer people in West Africa. They include:* Seereer-Siin language spoken in Sine-Saloum, Kaolack, Diourbel, Dakar and many other areas....
 ethnic groups.. Historical and archaeological records indicate that Peul-speakers have resided in western Africa since at least the 5th century A.D. as well. Interestingly, rock paintings in the Tassili-n-Ajjer suggests the presence of proto-Fulani cultural traits in the region by at least the fourth millennium B.C. Scholars specializing in Fulani culture believe that some of the imagery depicts rituals that are still practiced by contemporary Fulani people.

Rise to political dominance


Beginning as early as the 17th and 18th centuries, but mainly in the 19th century, Fulas and others took control of various states in West Africa
West Africa

West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the United Nations subregion of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries distributed over an area of approximately 5 million square km:...
.

These included the Fulani Empire
Fulani Empire

The Sokoto Caliphate is an Islamic spiritual community in Nigeria, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa?adu Abubakar. Founded during the Fulani Jihad in the early 1800s, it was one of the most powerful empires in sub-Saharan Africa prior to European conquest and colonization....
 founded by Usman dan Fodio
Usman dan Fodio

Shaihu Usman dan Fodio was the founder of the Sokoto Caliphate in 1809, a religious teacher, writer and Islamic reformer. Dan Fodio was one of a class of urbanized ethnic Fulani living in the Hausa States in what is today northern Nigeria....
 (which itself included smaller states), Fouta Djallon
Fouta Djallon

Fouta Djallon is a Highland region in the center of Guinea, West Africa. The indigenous name is Fuuta-Jaloo . The origin of the name is from the Fula language word for region and the name of the original inhabitants, the Jalonke or Djallonk?....
, Massina and others.

Culture & Language

The language of Fulas is called Pulaar or Fulfulde
Fula language

The Fula language is a language of West Africa, spoken by the Fula people from Senegambia and Guinea to Cameroon and Sudan. It is also spoken as the first language by the Tukulor in the Senegal River Valley and as a second language by peoples in other areas....
 depending on the region, or variants thereof. It is also the language of the Tukulor. All Senegalese who speak the language natively are known as the Halpulaar or Haalpulaar'en, which stands for "speakers of Pulaar" ("hal" is the root of the Pulaar verb haalugol, meaning "to speak"). In some areas, e.g. in northern Cameroon, Fulfulde is a local lingua franca
Lingua franca

A lingua franca is a language systematically used to communicate between persons not sharing a mother tongue, in particular when it is a third language, distinct from both persons' mother tongues....
.

With the exception of Guinea
Guinea

Guinea, officially Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa formerly known as French Guinea. The country's current population is estimated at 10,211,437 ....
, Fulas are minorities in every country they live in (most countries of West Africa). So some also speak other languages, for example:
  • Portuguese
    Portuguese language

    Portuguese is a Romance language that originated in what is now Galicia and Portugal. It is derived from the Latin language spoken by the Romanization Pre-Roman peoples of the Iberian Peninsula around 2000 years ago....
     and Kriol in Guinea-Bissau
    Guinea-Bissau

    The Republic of Guinea-Bissau is a country in western Africa, and one of the smallest states in continental Africa. It is bordered by Senegal to the north, and Guinea to the south and east, with the Atlantic Ocean to its west....
  • French
    French language

    French is a Romance language spoken around the world by around 80 million people as first language, by 190 million as second language, and by about another 200 million people as an acquired tongue, with significant speakers in 54 countries....
     and Arabic in Mauritania
    Mauritania

    Mauritania , officially the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, is a country in northwest Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the west, by Senegal on the southwest, by Mali on the east and southeast, by Algeria on the northeast, and by the Morocco-controlled Western Sahara on the northwest....
  • Hausa
    Hausa

    Hausa may refer to:*the Hausa language*the Hausa people...
     and French
    French language

    French is a Romance language spoken around the world by around 80 million people as first language, by 190 million as second language, and by about another 200 million people as an acquired tongue, with significant speakers in 54 countries....
     in Niger
    Niger

    Niger , officially the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east....
  • French
    French language

    French is a Romance language spoken around the world by around 80 million people as first language, by 190 million as second language, and by about another 200 million people as an acquired tongue, with significant speakers in 54 countries....
     and English
    English language

    English is a West Germanic language that originated in Anglo-Saxon England and has lingua franca status in many parts of the world as a result of the military, economic, scientific, political and cultural influence of the British Empire in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries and that of the United States from the mid 20th century onwa...
     in Cameroon
    Cameroon

    The Republic of Cameroon is a unitary state of central and western Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south....
  • Wolof
    Wolof

    Wolof may refer to:* Wolof Empire, a medieval West African state* Wolof language, a language spoken in Senegal, Gambia, and Mauritania* Wolof people, an ethnic group found in Senegal, Gambia, and Mauritania...
     and French
    French language

    French is a Romance language spoken around the world by around 80 million people as first language, by 190 million as second language, and by about another 200 million people as an acquired tongue, with significant speakers in 54 countries....
     in Senegal
    Senegal

    Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal, is a country south of the S?n?gal River in West Africa. Senegal is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Mauritania to the north, Mali to the east, and Guinea and Guinea-Bissau to the south....
  • Sango and French
    French language

    French is a Romance language spoken around the world by around 80 million people as first language, by 190 million as second language, and by about another 200 million people as an acquired tongue, with significant speakers in 54 countries....
     in Central African Republic
    Central African Republic

    The Central African Republic , is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It borders Chad in the north, Sudan in the east, the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the south, and Cameroon in the west....
  • Bambara
    Bambara language

    Bambara, also known as Bamanankan in the language itself, is a language spoken in Mali by as many as six million people . The differences between Bambara and Dioula language are minimal....
     and French
    French language

    French is a Romance language spoken around the world by around 80 million people as first language, by 190 million as second language, and by about another 200 million people as an acquired tongue, with significant speakers in 54 countries....
     in Mali
    Mali

    Mali, officially the Republic of Mali, is a landlocked nation in West Africa. Mali is the seventh largest country in Africa, bordering Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the C?te d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west....
  • English
    English language

    English is a West Germanic language that originated in Anglo-Saxon England and has lingua franca status in many parts of the world as a result of the military, economic, scientific, political and cultural influence of the British Empire in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries and that of the United States from the mid 20th century onwa...
    , Hausa
    Hausa

    Hausa may refer to:*the Hausa language*the Hausa people...
     and Ghanaian language
    Languages of Ghana

    Different sources give different figures for the number of languages of Ghana. This is because of different classifications of varieties as either languages or dialects....
    s in Ghana
    Ghana

    The Republic of Ghana is a country in West Africa. It borders C?te d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south....
  • English
    English language

    English is a West Germanic language that originated in Anglo-Saxon England and has lingua franca status in many parts of the world as a result of the military, economic, scientific, political and cultural influence of the British Empire in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries and that of the United States from the mid 20th century onwa...
     and some indigenous languages in Sierra Leone
    Sierra Leone

    Sierra Leone, officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea in the northeast, Liberia in the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean in the southwest....
    , particularly Krio, that lingua franca.
  • Hausa
    Hausa

    Hausa may refer to:*the Hausa language*the Hausa people...
    , other Nigerian language
    Languages of Nigeria

    The number of languages currently estimated and catalogued in Nigeria is 521. This number includes 510 living languages, two second languages without native speakers and 9 extinct languages....
    s and English
    English language

    English is a West Germanic language that originated in Anglo-Saxon England and has lingua franca status in many parts of the world as a result of the military, economic, scientific, political and cultural influence of the British Empire in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries and that of the United States from the mid 20th century onwa...
     in Nigeria
    Nigeria

    Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federation constitutional republic comprising States of Nigeria and one Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria....


The traditional dress of the Fula in most places consists of long colorful flowing robes, modestly embroidered or otherwise decorated. Also characteristic Fula tradition is that of women using Henna around the mouth, resulting in a blackening around the lips. Fula ethics are strictly governed by the notion of pulaaku.

Fula are primarily known to be pastoralists, but are also traders in some areas. Most Fula in the countryside spend long times alone on foot, moving their herds; they were 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
Xalam

File:Diffa Niger Griot DSC 0177.jpgXalam, also spelled khalam, is the Wolof language name for a traditional stringed Instrument from West Africa....
 (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 Fula popular musician Baaba Maal
Baaba Maal

Baaba Maal is a Senegalese singer and guitarist born in Podor, on the Senegal River. In addition to acoustic guitar, he also plays percussion. He has released several albums, both for independent and major labels....
 sings in Pulaar on his recordings.

Notable Fulani people by country


Nigeria

  • Usman dan Fodio
    Usman dan Fodio

    Shaihu Usman dan Fodio was the founder of the Sokoto Caliphate in 1809, a religious teacher, writer and Islamic reformer. Dan Fodio was one of a class of urbanized ethnic Fulani living in the Hausa States in what is today northern Nigeria....
    , founder, Sokoto Caliphate
  • Nana Asma’u, scholar and author, Sokoto Caliphate
  • Umaru Yar'Adua, current President of Nigeria
  • Shehu Shagari
    Shehu Shagari

    Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari, Turakin Sakkwato served as the President of Nigeria's Nigerian Second Republic , after the handover of power by General Olusegun Obasanjo's Military government....
    , Former Nigeria President
  • Muhammadu Buhari
    Muhammadu Buhari

    Muhammadu Buhari was the military ruler of Nigeria and an unsuccessful candidate for president in the April 19, 2003 presidential election. His ethnic background is Fula people and his faith is Muslim; his family is from Katsina....
    , former Nigerian Head of State
  • Atiku Abubakar
    Atiku Abubakar

    Alhaji Atiku Abubakar , Nigerian National Honours was the Vice-President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007. He is a native of Adamawa State and was a member of the ruling People's Democratic Party until being expelled in 2006 when he switched affiliation to the Action Congress party....
    , former Vice President of Nigeria
    Vice President of Nigeria

    The Vice President of Nigeria is the second-in-command to the President of Nigeria in the Politics of Nigeria. Officially styled Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.The Vice President is elected alongside the President in national elections....
  • Shehu Musa Yar'Adua
    Shehu Musa Yar'Adua

    Major General Shehu Musa Yar'Adua was a Nigerian businessman, soldier, and politician. He was the older brother of current Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua....
    , Nigerian politician and the brother of current Nigerian president Umaru Yar'Adua
  • Nuhu Ribadu
    Nuhu Ribadu

    Nuhu Ribadu is a Nigerian government official. He is the outgoing Executive Chairman of Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , the government commission tasked with countering corruption and fraud....
    , respected former Head of Nigerian Anti-corruption agency
  • Prof Jibril Aminu, Former minister of Education and Petroluem and a Senator in the Nigerian Parliament
  • Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Nigerian founding father and first prime minister
  • Vice-Admiral Murtala Nyako, current Governor of Adamawa State,former Chief of Naval Staff
  • Justice Salihu Moddibo Alfa Belgore, former Chief Justice of the Federation


Sierra Leone

  • Amadu Wurie
    Amadu Wurie

    Amadu Wurie was an early Sierra Leonean educationist and politician....
    , early Sierra Leonean educationist and politician
  • Amadu Jalloh
    Amadu Jalloh

    Alhaji Amadu Jalloh is a politician in Sierra Leone. He contested the 1996 presidential election as a member of the National Democratic Alliance , where he finished in 8th place with 2.3% of the first round voting....
    , Sierra Leonean politician
  • Alimamy Rassin
    Alimamy Rassin

    Alimamy Rassin was a Fula people Tribal chief from Sierra Leone who devoted his life to making peace among his people and fellow rulers....
    , Sierra Leonean chief during colonial period
  • Minkailu Bah
    Minkailu Bah

    Minkailu Bah is a Sierra Leonean politician and Lecturer and currently serves as Sierra Leone's Minister of Education, Youth and Sports. He was Acting head of Electrical and Electronics department Fourah Bay College University of Sierra Leone before his latest appointment as a minister...
    , Sierra Leone's minister of Education, Youth and Sports
  • Sulaiman Tejan-Jalloh
    Sulaiman Tejan-Jalloh

    Sulaiman Tejan-Jalloh is a Sierra Leonean politician and ambassador. He has been since 2001 and is currently the High Commissioner to the United Kingdom....
    , Sierra Leone ambassador to the United Kingdom
  • Abubakarr Jalloh
    Abubakarr Jalloh

    Abubakarr Jalloh is the name of:* Abubakarr Jalloh , Sierra Leonean politician* Abubakarr Jalloh , Sierra Leonean swimmer...
    , Sierra Leone Minister of Mineral Resources
  • Alimamy Jalloh
    Alimamy Jalloh

    Alimamy Jalloh is a Sierra Leonean professional Football , he is a midfielder and currently plays for HIFK in Finland second division....
    , Sierra Leonean football star
  • Mahmadu Alphajor Bah
    Mahmadu Alphajor Bah

    Mahmadu Alphajor Bah is a Sierra Leone football of Guinean descent, who plays as an attacking midfielder or Striker for Al-Qadisiya Al Khubar in Saudi Arabia....
    , Sierra Leonean football star
  • Rashid Wurie
    Rashid Wurie

    Rashid Wurie is a former Sierra Leonean international footballer. He was a member of the Sierra Leone national team squad at the 1996 African Nations Cup in South Africa....
    , former Sierra Leonean international football star


Guinea

  • Buubakar dit Bocar Biro The Last Almaami of Fuuta Jallon
  • Cheikh Ibrahima Sambegou(Karamoko Alpha mo Timbo]First Almamy of state of Futa Dialon
  • Almamy SorySecond Almamy of Futa Dialonafter Karamoko Alpha
  • Cellou Dalein Diallo
    Cellou Dalein Diallo

    Cellou Dalein Diallo is a Guinean economist and politician who was Prime Minister of Guinea from 2004 to 2006....
    , Prime Minister of Guinea from 2004-2007
  • Saifoulaye Diallo
    Saifoulaye Diallo

    Saifoulaye Diallo was a Guinean politician and diplomat. Diallo served as the foreign minister of his country under President of Guinea Ahmed S?kou Tour?....
    , former Guinean foreign minister
  • Bobo Balde
    Bobo Balde

    Dianbobo "Bobo" Bald? is a France born Guinean professional Association football currently playing for Celtic F.C. of the Scottish Premier League....
    , Guinean football star
  • Katoucha, former haute couture model and anti-female circumcision activist
  • Abdoul Salam Sow
    Abdoul Salam Sow

    Abdoul Salam Sow is a former Guinean association football who played for Ankarag?c?, FC Martigues, Belenenses, Imortal, Qatar SC and Chunnam Dragons....
    , former Guinean footballer
  • Abdallah Bah, Guinean football star
  • Diallo Telli
    Diallo Telli

    Diallo Telli was a Guinean diplomat and political figure. He helped found the Organisation of African Unity in 1963. He was the first secretary-general of the Organisation of African Unity between 1964 and 1972....
     (or Boubacar Telli Diallo), Former Diplomat, First Sec. Gen. of the OAU
  • Ibrahima Diallo
    Ibrahima Diallo

    Ibrahima Diallo is a football defender from Guinea who currently plays for R. Charleroi S.C. in Belgium. The left back came to R. Charleroi S.C. in July 2006 from French team EA Guingamp....
    , Guinean football star
  • Alpha Yaya Diallo
    Alpha Yaya Diallo

    Alpha Yaya Diallo is a guitarist and composer who is based in Vancouver, Canada. Alpha hails from Guinea and incorporates its rich musical tradition into his original compositions....
    , Guinean musician
  • Alpha Yaya Diallo
    Alpha Yaya Diallo

    Alpha Yaya Diallo is a guitarist and composer who is based in Vancouver, Canada. Alpha hails from Guinea and incorporates its rich musical tradition into his original compositions....
    , Former Chef of Labé, arrested by french colonialist
  • Almamy Schuman Bah
    Almamy Schuman Bah

    Almamy Schuman Bah is a Guinean football player.He was part of the Guinean 2004 African Nations Cup team, who finished second in their group in the first round of competition, before losing in the quarter finals to Mali national football team....
    , Guinean football star
  • Ibrahima Barry, Co-creator of the Fulfulde Script
  • Amadou Diallo
    Amadou Diallo

    Amadou Bailo Diallo was a 23-year-old immigrant to the United States from Guinea, who was shot and killed on February 4, 1999, by four New York City Police Department plain-clothed officers: Sean Carroll, Brendan Murphy, Edward McMellon and Kenneth Boss....
    , young Guinean resident in the Bronx killed by police in 1999


Mali

  • Adame Ba Konaré
    Adame Ba Konaré

    Adame Ba Konar? is a noted Malian historian and writer who is married to Alpha Oumar Konar?, former Heads of State of Mali. She is active in several causes for newborns and refugees....
    , Malian historian and spouse of the former president Alpha Oumar Konaré
    Alpha Oumar Konaré

    Alpha Oumar Konar? was the President of Mali for two five-year terms , and was Chairperson of the African Union Commission from 2003 to 2008....
  • Amadou Hampâté Bâ
    Amadou Hampâté Bâ

    Amadou Hamp?t? B? was a Malian writer and ethnology....
    , Malian author
  • Amadou Toumani Touré
    Amadou Toumani Touré

    General Amadou Toumani Tour? is the Heads of State of Mali of Mali. He overthrew a military ruler, Moussa Traor? in 1991, then handed power to civilian authorities the next year....
    , Malian President
  • Cheick Ahmadou Barry, Emperor of Macina
    Macina

    Macina may refer to:*Macina Empire , former state located in present-day Mali*Macina , the area in Mali once controlled by the empire*Macina, Mali...
  • Ahmadou Cheickou Barry, Emperor of Macina
    Macina

    Macina may refer to:*Macina Empire , former state located in present-day Mali*Macina , the area in Mali once controlled by the empire*Macina, Mali...
  • Ahmadou Ahmadou Barry, Last Emperor of Macina
    Macina

    Macina may refer to:*Macina Empire , former state located in present-day Mali*Macina , the area in Mali once controlled by the empire*Macina, Mali...
  • Ahmadou Lam Djoulde Tall, Emperor of Segou
    Ségou

    S?gou is a city in south-central Mali, lying northeast of Bamako on the River Niger, in the S?gou . It was founded by the Bozo people in 1620, on a site about from the present town....
  • Tidiane Ahmadou Tall,Emperor of Macina, cousin of Ahmadou Lam Djoulde Tall
  • Mountaga Tall
    Mountaga Tall

    Mountaga Tall is a Malian politician. He is the President of the National Congress for Democratic Initiative and a deputy in the National Assembly of Mali; he has also served as a member of the Pan-African Parliament....
    , King of Nioro du Sahel, son of Cheick Oumar Tall
  • Thierno Hady Tall, Marabout of the Tidiania brotherhood, descendent of Cheick Oumar Tall
  • Ahmadou Abdoulaye Souaidou Kane, Soufi Saint of Dina and Dilly
  • Daouda Kane, Soufi Saint of Mopti
  • Oumou Dilly Kane,Soufi Saint of Dilly, The most famous soufi woman in Mali, daughter of Ahmadou Abdoulaye Souaidou
  • Modibo Kane, Soufi Saint of Dilly, unique son of Oumou Dilly Kane
  • Cheick Sidi Modibo Kane, Soufi Saint of Dilly, son of Modibo Kane
  • Ahmadou Modibo Kane,Soufi Saint of Dilly, son of Modibo Kane and brother of Sidi Modibo
  • Bokar Sada Sy, former Malian Defense Secretary (Ministre de la defense)
  • Ousmane Sy
    Ousmane Sy

    Ousmane Sy is a Malian politician, born on May 25, 1949 in Bandiagara, Mali.Ousmane Sy received his higher education in France. He holds a Doctorate in Economic and Social Development and two advanced Diplomas with specializations in agricultural development and agricultural economics ....
    , Malian politician
  • Sy Kadiatou Sow, Malian politician and spouse of Ousmane Sy
    Ousmane Sy

    Ousmane Sy is a Malian politician, born on May 25, 1949 in Bandiagara, Mali.Ousmane Sy received his higher education in France. He holds a Doctorate in Economic and Social Development and two advanced Diplomas with specializations in agricultural development and agricultural economics ....
  • Djibril Diallo, former Malian minister under the regime of General Moussa Traore
  • Boubou Ardo Gallo Dicko, one the famous legendary heroes ever in West African, Chief warrior of Nene (Macina
    Macina

    Macina may refer to:*Macina Empire , former state located in present-day Mali*Macina , the area in Mali once controlled by the empire*Macina, Mali...
    )
  • Alpha Sillamakan Dicko, one of the famous heroes in Macina
    Macina

    Macina may refer to:*Macina Empire , former state located in present-day Mali*Macina , the area in Mali once controlled by the empire*Macina, Mali...
  • Moctar Ly, Malian politician
  • General Sekou Ly, former Malian politician and military chief
  • Ahamadou Coumba ketchel Sy, Lieutenant of Ahmadou Lam Djoulde Tall, Mali
    Mali

    Mali, officially the Republic of Mali, is a landlocked nation in West Africa. Mali is the seventh largest country in Africa, bordering Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the C?te d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west....
    , Segou
    Ségou

    S?gou is a city in south-central Mali, lying northeast of Bamako on the River Niger, in the S?gou . It was founded by the Bozo people in 1620, on a site about from the present town....
  • Ma Demba Sy, King of Sissany in Mali, under the French colonists


Senegal

  • Baaba Maal
    Baaba Maal

    Baaba Maal is a Senegalese singer and guitarist born in Podor, on the Senegal River. In addition to acoustic guitar, he also plays percussion. He has released several albums, both for independent and major labels....
    , Senegalese singer
  • Cheikh Hamidou Kane
    Cheikh Hamidou Kane

    Cheikh Hamidou Kane is a Senegalese writer best known for his prizewinning novel L'aventure ambigu? , about the interactions of western and African cultures....
    , Senegalese writer
  • Ibrahim Ba
    Ibrahim Ba

    Ibrahim "Ibou" Ba is a retired France professional football player of Senegalese descent.He played as a midfielder . Ba was born in Senegal but his family moved to France when he was a child....
    , French-Senegalese former football player
  • Mamadou Niang
    Mamadou Niang

    Mamadou Niang is a Senegal Association football Forward . Niang plays for Ligue 1 team Olympique de Marseille and has represented Senegal national football team at international level at the 2004 African Cup of Nations, 2006 African Cup of Nations, and 2008 African Cup of Nations African Cup of Nations....
     Senegales football player
  • Issa Bâ
    Issa Ba

    Issa Ba is a Senegalese footballer, who currently plays for AJ Auxerre.External links...
     Senegalese football player
  • Maba Diakhou Ba
    Maba Diakhou Bâ

    Maba Diakhou B? , born at Tavacaltou. A marabout from Rip, and a disciple of the Tijaniyya sufi brotherhood, he became leader of Saloum.A descendant of the Fulani dynasty of D?nyankob?, from the branch of the B? family in the region of Badibou, Maba Diakhou B? combined political and religious goals in an attempt to reform or overthrow p...
     Almamy of Rip
  • Malick Sy
    Malick Sy

    El-Hadji Malick Sy was a Senegalese religious leader and teacher in the Tijaniyya Sufi brotherhood....
     marabout
  • Moussa Ba Senegalese professional kickboxer
  • Ahmadou Bamba Ba, Marabout, Spiritual Leader


Burkina Faso

  • Thomas Sankara
    Thomas Sankara

    Captain Thomas Isidore No?l Sankara was the leader of Burkina Faso from 1983 to 1987. While noted for his personal charisma and praised for promoting health and women's rights, he also antagonised many vested interests in the country....
    , Former President of Burkina Faso
  • Youssouf Sambo Bâ
    Youssouf Sambo Bâ

    Youssouf Sambo B? is a Burkina Faso politician and retired teacher. He is the President of the Party for Democracy and Socialism.B? was headmaster of Coll?ge d'Enseignement G?n?ral in Bobo-Dioulasso from 1974 to 1977....
    , Burkinabe politician
  • Bénéwendé Stanislas Sankara
    Bénéwendé Stanislas Sankara

    B?n?wend? Stanislas Sankara is a Burkinab? politician and the President of the Union for Rebirth/Sankarist Movement party.Sankara was born in To?ssin....
    , Burkinabe politician


Cameroon

  • Ahmadou Ahidjo
    Ahmadou Ahidjo

    Ahmadou Babatoura Ahidjo was the first List of Presidents of Cameroon from 1960 until 1982....
    , first President of Cameroon
  • Issa Hayatou
    Issa Hayatou

    Issa Hayatou is the current president of the Confederation of African Football . He was born on 9 August 1946 in Cameroon and is married with four children....
    , current President African Football Confederation (CAF)




Further reading

  • , Accessed 25 March 2008.


External links



See also

  • Wodaabe
    Wodaabe

    The Wodaabe are a small subgroup of the Fulani ethnic group. They are traditionally nomadic cattle-herders and traders in the Sahel, with migrations stretching from southern Niger, through northern Nigeria, northeastern Cameroon, and the western region of the Central African Republic....
  • Hausa people
    Hausa people

    The Hausa are a Sahelian people chiefly located in the West Africa regions of northern Nigeria and southeastern Niger. There are also significant numbers found in regions of Sudan, Cameroon, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, and Chad and smaller communities scattered throughout West Africa and on the traditional Hajj route across the Sahara Desert and Sa...
  • Mandé people
    Mande

    Mande may refer to:* the Mand? people of western Africa* the Mandinka people people of western Africa* any of the Mande languages* the Mandinka language language...
  • Wolof people
    Wolof

    Wolof may refer to:* Wolof Empire, a medieval West African state* Wolof language, a language spoken in Senegal, Gambia, and Mauritania* Wolof people, an ethnic group found in Senegal, Gambia, and Mauritania...
  • Songhai people
    Songhai

    The Songhai are an ethnic group from western Africa akin to the Mand?. The Songhai languages, however, has been connected with the Nilo-Saharan languages language family, unlike their neighboring counterparts....