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The African continent is home to various tribes. Africa is rich in biodiversity due to its climate, which makes it feasible for tribes to live here. The Fulani are one of these tribes which live in almost 20 nations in the west and central region of Africa. This tribe is also called Peul or Fula. It comes in the category of nomadic tribe that means it keeps wandering from place to place. Majority of people of Fulani tribe follow the religion of Islam. Due to the light variety of skin and straight hair of the people of this tribe, they are said to be the native of North Africa or sometimes from the Arab region. They are also called ‘white people’ of Africa.
Fulani Tribe
The African continent is the second largest continent of the world as per the area and also the second most populous continent of the world.
Fulani people are around 25 million in population with the largest population lives in Nigeria of the Sahel region. We know that the Sahel region consists of countries such as – Mauritania, Chad, Mali, Niger etc. It is the region of the Fulani tribe.
The Fulani tribe is fundamentally a herding community but it is also involved in trading activities. They make ‘grass houses’ to reside in. Fulani people are fond of cattle. They believe that, more cows, the more prosperity in a family. These people often get in turmoil due to the cattle entering someone’s field and destroying their crops. Due to decreasing land for animals, such conflicts are prevalent all over the world. Their wandering habit has made various paths of trading in West Africa.
The advanced transport system in the world is challenging the wandering quality of this tribe. Now, the less wandering habit of Fulani people is persuading them to settle down at a distinct place which is difficult because of their different culture that does not mix well with other local people.
The people from this tribe have also reached to one of the highest constitutional positions in various African countries like the president of Nigeria, Senegal or Gambia and the prime ministers in countries such as Mali. Tijjani Muhammad-Binde, once been the president of UNGA, have been among some famous people of this tribe.
Fulani people like having many tattoos all over their body. They like to look beautiful and adorn a variety of things and makeup according to their choices. The women in this tribe like to spend their time doing the handicraft works such as- making baskets, knitting and weaving also. They like to carry decorated clothes which contain a lot of embroidery on them. The language of these people is known as –’ Pulaar’. The variations of this language are used by Fulani people in different regions differently.
Fulani people have a strange culture of showing bravery in which they hit each other and keep laughing even by getting hurt, although many countries have banned this tradition as it can be life-threatening at times.
The caste system in prevalent in Fulani society which has four categories- traders, nobility, blacksmiths and successors of slaves of rich Fulani people.
Fulani braids are the most popular culture of the Fulani tribe followed around the world. In Fulani braids, one can make them at the center of your head or simply in the cornrow which goes down from your head, in anyways, these hairstyles are followed by some celebrities also. Usually, Fula women set their hair with 5 braids at a time. They also put the indigo ink around their lips and gums which makes their lips look black.
They also like to sing and dance to their folk songs. They whistle, play flute and beat drums to enjoy the music and to dance.
Conclusion
The Fulani tribe of the Africa continent is a widespread tribe which is concentrated in the Sahel region of Africa. These people were basically wanderers which helped them in expanding their culture to other regions of Africa also. Although they have started to settle down in various places but majority of the population still likes to keep moving as their culture does not mix well with others.
