The Fulani tribe is a group of nomadic traders who reside primarily in Nigeria and other countries in West Africa, though they have spread out into Sudanese North Africa and Central Africa. As a tribe, they often move from place to place, herding goats, cows and sheep around whatever region they reside, staying afoul of local farming villages. They are an offshoot of the Hausa-Fulani tribes of West Africa; their primary languages are Pulaar or Fulfulde, alternating according to region. The Fula are very religious people, holding their Muslim beliefs very close to them. The Fula jihads carried out in the 19th century allowed them to maintain dominance over many states in West Africa.
The activity orientation of the Fulani people is based very much around survival. Much of their work revolves around maintaining their herds, and holding onto their food supply. Survival also depends on strict adherence to family values and loyalty to one's family; many political changes occur by people drumming up support on a grassroots level with other families. Their religion is also very important to them, to different degrees of orthodoxy - this was the impetus behind the Fula jihads of the 19th century.
One of the biggest concerns of Fula culture is the concept of pulaaku, which is a code of behavior that allows them to maintain their dignity despite their nomadic lifestyle. Pulaaku emphasizes ideals like patience, respect, modesty, wisdom, and prudence, among others. These concepts are closely tied into one's ability to maintain their herd; the cows and animals are treated as part of the family and an important part of Fulani survival. To that end, individuals of the Fulani tribe place a great importance on strict moralistic cultural values, and value what little they have greatly.
Following the basic survival and religious aspects of Fula culture, their social and cultural activities are also a significant part of daily life. Fula music and dress is often extravagant and complex, using instruments like the hoddu or riiti to accompany vocals (Ndukwe, 1996). Fula women use henna and indigo around their mouths to blacken their lips. Fula women usually wear long robes, usually brightly colored, with turbans and various degrees of jewelry and piercings.
In terms of uncertainty avoidance, the Fula people, like most groups in Nigeria, are moderately concerned with eliminating uncertainty in their culture. Fulani tribes, as opposed to others like the Ibo, are somewhat higher on the uncertainty avoidance level in terms of cultural strictness (Barrington 83). Fulani believe greatly in respecting authority, and they accept the concept of vertical social relations (in which people have differing levels of importance and should be socialized with as such). Also, children are expected to strictly obey their parents, another instance of this ideal. While the Fula are not as concerned with security as some Russian countries, they still wish make sure their culture has a sense of order and stability.
Works Cited
Ndukwe, Pat I. Fulani. Rosen Publishing Group, 1996. Print.
Reisman, P. Freedom in Fulani Social Life: An Introspective Ethnography. University of
Chicago Press, 1998. Print.
