Fula, Fulani, Pulo, Fulɓe 
Fula women. | | | Regions with significant populations | | Guinea, Nigeria, Cameroon, Senegal, Mali, Sierra Leone Central African Republic, Burkina Faso, Benin, Niger, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Ghana, Chad, Mauritania, Sudan, Egypt,Togo, Côte d'Ivoire. | | Languages | | Fula language | | Religion | | Islam | | Related ethnic groups | | Wolof and Serer | | person | Pullo | | people | Fulɓe | | language | Pulaar (west), Fulfulde (east) | Fula or Fulani or Fulbe (the latter being an Anglicisation of the word in their language, Fulɓe[1]) are an ethnic group of people spread over many countries, predominantly in West Africa, but found also in Central Africa and Sudanese North Africa. The countries in Africa where they are present include Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea, The Gambia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Niger, Chad, Togo, the Central African Republic, Ghana, Liberia, and as far as Sudan in the east. Fula people form a minority in every country they live, but in Guinea they represent a plurality of the population (40%).Total population 27 000 000.[2] [edit] One people, many names  Men from the Wodaabe subgroup performing Yaake dance There are also many names (and spellings of the names) used in other languages to refer to the Fulɓe. Fulani in English is borrowed from the Hausa term, and it is also used by the Manding peoples, being the diminuitive form of the word "Fula" in their language, essentially meaning "little Fula". Fula, from Manding languages 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 term Pël, which is variously spelled: Peul, Peulh, and even Peuhl. More recently the Fulfulde / Pulaar term Fulɓe, 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. [edit] Related groups A closely related group is the Tukolor (Toucouleur) in the central Senegal River valley. These people are often referred to together with Fulɓe of the region as Haalpulaar'en (Pulaar-speakers). Fula society in some parts of West Africa features the "caste" divisions typical of the region. In Mali, for instance, those who are not ethnically Fula have been referred to as yimɓe pulaaku (people of the Fula culture).[citation needed] The Woɗaaɓe, also known as the Bororo, are a subgroup of the Fula people. [edit] Traditional livelihood The Fulani are traditionally a nomadic, pastoralist, trading people, herding cattle, goats and sheep across the vast dry hinterlands of their domain, keeping somewhat separate from the local agricultural populations.  Young Fulani cattle herders circa 1967 [edit] History [edit] 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.[3] 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 and Serer ethnic groups.[1]. 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.[4] [edit] Rise to political dominance Main article: Fula jihadsBeginning 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. These included the Fulani Empire, also known as the Sokoto Caliphate, founded by Usman dan Fodio (which itself included smaller states), Fouta Djallon, Massina and others. [edit] Culture & Language  Popular illustration of Fula greeting ritual ca. 1910, in French it reads: Salutations among primitive people. The language of Fulas is called Pulaar or Fulfulde 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. With the exception of Guinea (where the Fula make up a ~40% plurality of the population), Fulas are minorities in every country they live in (most countries of West Africa). So some also speak other languages, for example:  Fulani women with traditional facial tattoos [edit] Clothing The traditional dress of the Fula in 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. Men wear long robes to the lower calves with trousers of cotton.Herdsmen wear the distinctive conical straw hat and a turban. Women wear long robes and turbans.They decorate themselves with necklaces, earrings, nose rings and anklets. [5] [edit] Herding 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. Wealth is counted by how large the herd of cattle is and how many cattle.Long ago fulani tribes used to fight over cattle. 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 Fula popular musician Baaba Maal sings in Pulaar on his recordings. "Zaghareet" or ululation is a popular form of vocal music formed by rapidly moving the tongue sideways and making a sharp, high sound. Traditional food The Fulani eat millet, milk and meat as staples. Millet is eaten in the morning, noon and night as a porridge with a sauce or stew which usually contains, tomatoes, peppers, bone, meat, onion and water. Meat such as goat is usually eaten at special occasions as well as beef. A thick beverage similar to the tuareg beverage eghajira, is made by pounding goat cheese, milk, dates and millet. [edit] Houses Fula live in domed houses during the dry season. The domed house is supported by compact millet stalk pillars. During the wet season the house is covered by reed mats. [edit] Notable Fulani people by country  Yar'Adua, current President of Nigeria [edit] Nigeria - Usman dan Fodio, founder, Sokoto Caliphate
- Nana Asma’u, scholar and author, Sokoto Caliphate
- Umaru Yar'Adua, current President of Nigeria
- Shehu Shagari, Former Nigeria President
- Muhammadu Buhari, former Nigerian Head of State
- Ahmadu Bello, first Premier of Northern Nigeria
- Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria
- Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, Nigerian politician and the brother of current Nigerian president Umaru Yar'Adua
- Dr.Aliyu Musdafa, His Royal Highness, Lamido of Adamawa.
- 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
- Sheik Dahiru Usman Bauchi,tijjaniya and islamic scholar
- Professor Iya Abubakar, Mathematician and former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello Univerisity, Zaria, Nigeria.
- Professor Jubril Aminu, Pioneering Nigerian Professor of Medicine and former Vice Chancellor of University or Maiduguri, Nigeria.
- Professor Ibrahim Gambari, Under Secretary-General/Special Adviser - Africa in the UN; former Professor and Chiarman (Head) of Political Science department & the International Studies program at Ahmadu Bello Univeristy, Zaria and Nigeria; former Minister of Foreign Affairs and also former Nigerian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
[edit] Senegal - Malick Daouda Sy (to not confuse with El Hadj Sayyid Malick Sy),Imam and founder of the Fulbe Islamic Kingdom of Bundu(French: Boundou)in 1690 in the est of Fuuta-Tooro
- Bubu Malick Sy,son of Malick Daouda Sy,king of Bundu
- Souleymane Baal, founder of Fuuta-Tooro Islamic state (circa 1750)
- Cheikh Abdul Karim Kane, successor to Souleymane Baal
- Cheikh Umar Tall, General Khalif (1850-1865) of the Tijaniyya suufi way (tarikh) for West Africa
- Ahmadou Bamba Ba, Marabout, Spiritual Leader
- Maba Diakhou Ba Almamy of Rip
- Malick Sy marabout
- Sheikh Hamidou Kane, writer, author of the autobiographical novel L’Aventure ambiguë (1961; Ambiguous Adventure), that considers the African and Muslim identity
- Habib Thiam, former Prime minister of president Abdou Diouf
- Yaya Wane, sociologist, author of the milestone work Les Toucouleur du Fouta Tooro (Sénégal). Stratification sociale et structure familiale
- Daouda Sow, former head of the parliament
- Amadou Cledor Sall, former interior minister
- Baaba Maal [2], composer, singer, international star, head of the band Daande Leñol (the voice of the race)
- Mariam Bâ, writer Une si longue lettre
- Oumou Sy, fashion modelist
- Ibrahim Ba, French-Senegalese former football player
- Moussa Ba Senegalese professional kickboxer
- Mamadou Niang Senegales football player
- almamy abdoul first almamy from appe lowre
- Issa Ba Senegalese football player
[edit] Guinea - Alfa Ibrahima Sambegu (Karamoko Alfa mo Timbo] First ruler of the islamic state of Fuuta-Jalon, head of the Alfaya branch of the Seediyaaɓe dynasty of Timbo
- Alfa Mamadou Sellu Diallo, Karamoko Alfa mo Labe, first lord of the Diiwal (province) of Labe, circa 1726.
- Ibrahima Sori Yero Poore aka Ibrahima Sori Mawɗo (1730-1764). Second ruler of Fuuta-Jalon after Karamoko Alfa and the first to hold the Almaami title, head of the Soriya branch of the Seediyaaɓe dynasty of Timbo.
- Tierno Muhammadu Samba Mombeya, (1765-1850), author of Oogirde Malal, co-founder, with Usman ɓii Foduyee, of Pular [ajami] literature
- Boubacar Biro Barry Buubakar dit Bocar Biro The Last Almaami of Fuuta-Jalon, died at the battle of Poredaka in 1896
- Alfa Yaya Diallo (1850-1912), Former Chef of Labé, arrested by french colonialist. The national anthem of the republic of Guinea was adapted by musicians Jean Cellier and Fodeba Keita, from the Alfa Yaya praise-song, composed by a Griot circa 1900.
- Tierno Aliyyu Ɓuuɓa Ndiyan (1855-1927). Author, theologian, Tijaniyya suufi.
- Tierno Chaikou Baldé, (1902-1972), schoolteacher, researcher, author.
- Saifoulaye Diallo (1923-1981), former Guinean politician, first president of the national assembly (1958-1963) held various cabinet positions under the regime of Sekou Toure
- Diawadou Barry [3] (1917-1969), accountant, descendant of the Soriya branch of the former ruling family of Fuuta-Jalon, leader of Bloc Africain de Guinea political party, opted for the No vote in the 1958 French referendum. Executed secretely at [Camp Boiro] in May 1969.
- Barry Ibrahima aka Barry III, lawyer, politician, head of Democratie Socialiste de Guinée, arrested, tried and sentenced in absentia, hanged publicly on Jan. 25, 1971 in Conakry under the dictatorship of president [Sékou Touré].
- Ousmane Poreko Diallo (1922-1961) [4]. Ethnographer and author ; his fieldwork documents various aspects of Fulɓe traditional and changing culture ; he worked successively at Centre IFAN-Guinée (under French rule) and at Institut National de la Recherche et de la Documentation (INRD) of the republic of Guinea.
- Afâ Ibrâhîm Sow (1931-2005), linguist, author of numerous articles, editor of several classic books on Fulbe tradition
- Diallo Telli (or Boubacar Telli Diallo [5]), Lawyer, former Diplomat, First Sec. Gen. of the Organization of African Unity, died of starvation at [Camp Boiro][6] in 1977.
- Thierno Diallo. Guinean historian, author of Alfa Yaya, roi de Labé and Institutions politiques du Fouta-Djallon-19e s..
- Boubakar Barry. Guinean historian, author of Bokar Biro, le dernier grand almamy du Fouta-Djallon.
- Tierno Monénembo, Tierno Saidou Diallo, acclaimed author and activist. He has published several novels, all steeped in Fulɓe history and culture as well as in African and Guinean contemporary history: The Eldest Orphan (2000), (Peuls (2004) and Le roi du Kahel (2008) deal respectively with the Rwandan Genocide, the Fulɓe's saga and Fuuta-Jalon.
- Cellou Dalein Diallo, Prime Minister of Guinea from 2004-2007
- Bobo Balde, Guinean football star
- Katoucha, former haute couture model and anti-female circumcision activist
- Abdoul Salam Sow, former Guinean footballer
- Abdallah Bah, Guinean football star
- Ibrahima Diallo, Guinean football star
- Alpha Yaya Diallo, Guinean musician
- Almamy Schuman Bah, Guinean football star
- Amadou Diallo, young Guinean resident in the Bronx killed by police in 1999
- Cheick Ahmadou Barry, Emperor of Macina
- Ahmadou Cheickou Barry, Emperor of Macina
- Ahmadou Ahmadou Barry, Last Emperor of Macina
- Cerno Bokar Salif Taal, suufi theologian
- Amadou Hampâté Bâ, Malian researcher and author, student of Cerno Bokar Salif Taal
- Adame Ba Konaré, Malian historian and spouse of the former president Alpha Oumar Konaré
- Amadou Toumani Touré, Malian President
- Ahmadou Lam Djoulde Tall, Emperor of Segou
- Tidiane Ahmadou Tall,Emperor of Macina, cousin of Ahmadou Lam Djoulde Tall
- Mountaga Tall, 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 Sainte 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
- Baba Modibo Kane,Soufi and great marabout 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, Malian politician
- Sy Kadiatou Sow, Malian politician and spouse of Ousmane Sy
- Djibril Diallo, former Malian minister under the regime of General Moussa Traore
- Boubou Ardo Gallo, one the famous legendary heroes ever in West African, Chief warrior of Nene (Macina)
- Alpha Sillamakan Dicko, one of the famous heroes in Macina
- Moctar Ly, Malian politician
- General Sekou Ly, former Malian politician and military chief
- Ahamadou Coumba ketchel Sy, Lieutenant of Ahmadou Lam Djoulde Tall, Mali, Segou
- Ma Demba Sy, King of Sissany in Mali, under the French colonists
[edit] Sierra Leone - Amadu Wurie, early Sierra Leonean educationist and politician
- Amadu Jalloh, Sierra Leonean politician
- Alimamy Rassin, Sierra Leonean chief during colonial period
- Minkailu Bah, Sierra Leone's minister of Education, Youth and Sports
- Sulaiman Tejan-Jalloh, Sierra Leone ambassador to the United Kingdom
- Abubakarr Jalloh, Sierra Leone Minister of Mineral Resources
- Alimamy Jalloh, Sierra Leonean football star
- Mahmadu Alphajor Bah, Sierra Leonean football star
- Rashid Wurie, former Sierra Leonean international football star
- Saajo Bah, Editor of Peeral.com, one of the few online magazines published in African languages.
- Umu Hawa Tijan Jalloh, Sierra Leone´s 1st Chief Justice
- Dr Abdulai Timbo, former Sierra Leone´s Chief Justice
- Ibrahima Timbo, founder of the annual World Fulbe Festival or Koolol Fulbe in Belgium
- Mohamed Bailor Barrie, Businessman and Fulani Advocate
- Chernor Musa Jalloh, Football Consultant
- Abdulai Jalloh, former Sierra Leone's national footballer
- Mohamed Jalloh, former Sierra Leone's national footballer
- Ibrahim Bah, former Sierra Leone's national footballer
[edit] Burkina Faso [edit] Cameroon - ^ The letter "ɓ" is an implosive b sound. In the orthography for languages of Guinea (pre-1985), it was written bh, so one would have written Fulbhe instead of Fulɓe. Some people still use this spelling convention.
- ^ People Guinea: People. CIA World Factbook. 14 May 2009 update. Accessed 2009-06-05.
- ^ mtDNA of Fulani Nomads and Their Genetic Relationships to Neighboring Sedentary Populations
- ^ The Fulani/Fulbe People | Thematic Essay | Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- ^ Pulaaku Ethics
[edit] Mauritania [edit] Gambia - Alhagi Habib Sallah, Marabout
- Hassan Musa Camara, 2nd Vice President of The Gambia, Former opposition Leader
- Hamat Bah, Politician, Oppostion Leader
- Halifa Sallah, Politician, Writer
- Musa Molloh Baldeh, Warrior
- Aja Isatou Njie Saidy, Current Vice President
- Assan Jallow, Former Attorney General, Lawyer
- Alhagi Cherno Jallow, Marabout
- Modou Musa Njie, Businessman
- Omar Jallow AKA O.J., Politician
- Captain. Sanna Sabally, Former Vice President/No. 2 Man of AFPRC.
[edit] 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.
- Christiane Seydou, (ed.) (1976). Bibliographie générale du monde peul. Niamey, Institut de Recherche en Sciences Humaines du Niger
[edit] Further reading [edit] External links [edit] See also |
