The Fulani people of West Africa are the largest nomadic group in the world. As a group they contain a vast array of diverse people who were conquered and became a part of the Fulani through the spread of Islam. The origins of the Fulani people are highly disputed, some believe that they are of North African or Arabic origin, characterized by the lighter skin and straighter hair. Some Africans even refer to them as "white people". However, recent studies show that they descend from nomads from both North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. The Fulani were the first group of people in West Africa to convert to Islam through jihads, or holy wars, and were able to take over much of West Africa and establish themselves not only as a religious group but also as a political and economical force. The Fulani are a very proud people; they are the missionaries of Islam and continued to conquer much of West Africa.
The Fulani are primarily nomadic herders and traders. Through their nomadic lifestyle they established numerous trade routes in West Africa. Many times the Fulani go to local markets and interact with the people, getting news and spreading it through much of West Africa.
The most important object in Fulani society is cattle. There are many names, traditions, and taboos concerning cattle. The number of cows a person owns is a sign of his wealth. This has caused significant conflict in recent months between the Fulani and other ethnic groups. The reason for this conflict is that the cows will many times go into the fields and eat the grains of local farmers.
As time goes on, the modes of transportation throughout West Africa have become more modernized. This modernization in transportation puts the Fulani at risk of losing their identity as nomads, and forces them to settle in farms and villages. This often creates other problems, as the Fulani are a very proud people of a unique culture and are used to ruling over the other people groups.
A distinctive difference between the Fulani and other African people is that the Fulani have a huge respect for beauty. Beauty is considered very important and one of the ways this is shown is through tattoos that are put all over the body. A distinguishing feature of a Fulani woman is her lips, which are many times a blackish color from the use of Henna or tattooing done on the mouth.
Being brave and fearless is also a very important aspect of the Fulani, and that is obvious by their numerous weapons. One tradition is that when two boys reach coming of age, the two boys hit each other with their spears, not showing any pain but instead laughing. Many have died in these ceremonies, which are now against the law in many countries, but continue to be practiced.
The Fulani normally raise large amounts of cattle and have therefore settled in the large plain areas of Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Guinea. The Fulani hold to a strict caste system. The four caste subdivisions are the nobility, merchants, blacksmiths, and descendents of slaves of wealthy Fulani.
Malians are open and tolerant. Ethnic identity is still important, but where once there was enmity, in most cases a cousinage or “joking cousins” relationship now exists. People from different groups commonly tease and poke fun at ethnic stereotypes and past deeds, to everyone’s enjoyment. The only exception is the Taureg, who remain a people apart. In Mali, personal relationships are important, friendships are things of great value, families are the glue that holds everything together, and hospitality and generosity seem to increase in inverse proportion to a person’s means. Malians worry about the dire state of the country and a perceived loss of tradition, rail against corruption and long for a better life, but deep down they’re a remarkably optimistic people who love to dance. They love it even more if you dance with them. Malians struggle to hold fast to old ways of living, while embracing modern culture. This conflict is particularly acute because Mali is officially the 4th poorest country in the world and for most Malians daily life is a struggle. In this context, the role played by music in Malian life cannot be overestimated. Not only has Mali’s music proven to be a reassuring bastion of traditional rhythms and a bulwark against the encroachment of the modern world, it has also provided a refuge and diversion from difficult economic circumstances. It is little wonder, therefore, that music accompanies everything in Malian life. 80 to 90% of Malians are Muslim.
Burkinabes are a laid-back lot, have a genuine pride in their country and, like so many Africans, often find themselves torn between the modern world and the emotive tug of tradition. Although ethnicity, along with religion, is the bedrock of identity, you’ll see little if any antagonism between members of different ethnic groups. Life for the Burkinabe is as tough as it gets. In 2005 the UN ranked Burkina Faso 175th out of 177 countries across a range of quality-of-life indicators. Almost 50% of the population survives on less than $1 per day. Adult literacy stands at 13% and one in every five Burkinabe is malnourished. Just 2% of the government’s budget is spent on health. Over one-third of Burkinabes will not live to 40 years old. Thus it is that daily life for Burkinabes is all about survival.
Acacia Wood Carvings 
