Fulani

/fuːˈlɑːni/ noun

Definition

A major West African ethnic group known for pastoral cattle herding, Islamic culture, and historical empires, also spelled Fula or Fulah.

Etymology

Derived from Fula language, with '-ni' being a suffix; 'Fulani' became the dominant English spelling through British colonial administrative usage in Nigeria and other regions.

Kelly Says

The Fulani Empire of Sokoto was one of Africa's largest pre-colonial states, yet most world history courses focus on European exploration rather than the sophisticated West African kingdoms that actually dominated the continent's 19th-century politics.

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