SUMMARY
The Fulani people (also referred to as Fula, Fulbe or Falata) are a large ethnic and ethno-linguistic community spread mainly across the semi-arid Sahel area, which stretches from West to East Africa. Originating from West Africa, the Fulani began migrating eastwards in the 19th century. Nowadays, the group inhabits several countries including Mali, Niger, Ivory Coast and Sudan. In Nigeria, most are found in the North, where they have become intertwined with the Hausa people, the other large Muslim group in the country, to the extent that the two groups are often jointly referred to as “Hausa-Fulani”. Together, they constitute nearly a third of Nigeria’s population. Historically, the Hausa were sedentary peasants and the Fulani were cattle herders who migrated into Hausa areas, where they became important political players.
In the 17th to 19th century, the Fulani people dominated large areas in West Africa, notably though the Fulani empire founded by Usman dan Fodio who forged an alliance between the Fulani aristocracy and sedentary Hausa farmers in what is today northern Nigeria. The British colonial system strengthened Fulani and Hausa traditional power structures through its policy of indirect rule. Since independence, the Fulani people have continued to play an important role in Nigeria, with much of the country’s political development centred on power struggles between Fulani/Hausa and other, often non-Muslim, groups. The Muslim North has mostly been in a position to dominate the country politically, creating grievances and fears among other groups, while the relative poverty of the North has spurred grievances among Northerners. Several important political players, such as presidents Umaru Yar’Adua and Shehu Shagari and military ruler Muhammadu Buhari, have come from the Fulani ethnic group. Recently, the introduction of Sharia law in Northern states has been a major source of violent confrontation along religious and ethnic lines.
In non-state conflicts with other ethnic groups the Fulani appear to not deploy a formally organised militia, but instead rely on more loosely organised groupings to carry out violence against their opponents.
The Fulani people have been involved in the non-state category of UCDP organised violence.
