Adamawa Fulani in Nigeria


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

In the 1800s, Modibo Adama, a scholar and Muslim holy warrior, led a jihad in what is now Cameroon and Nigeria, opening the region up to Fulani colonization. He continued his campaign, eventually conquering many villages and founding his own empire, which he named Adamawa after himself. His Fulani people established Islam as the religion in the region. New converts learned classical Arabic in order to study the Koran. To support themselves, the people raised cattle on land that was once forested.

In general, the Fulani peoples are located in an almost horizontal strip across West Africa. The Sahara Desert forms their northernmost boundary, while the threat of tsetse flies controls their movement to the south. The Fulani tribes are grouped and named according to their locations, occupations and dialects. The Adamawa Fulani are the group of Fulani who live in Nigeria's Adamawa Province. Some live in Cameroon, Chad, Gabon and Sudan. There are also a small number in Cape Verde.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Although most of the Adamawa Fulani are shepherds, some also raise a few crops such as sorghum or corn. They trade with neighboring tribes for millet, yams and peanuts. Milk is the main staple in their diet, and this distinguishes them from the tribes who do not milk their cattle. They also produce butter, which can be traded in the markets.

The Fulani nomads live in "wet season camps" while planting and harvesting. The pastures are lush and green, and the cattle graze freely. These camps consist of beehive-like huts made of woven twigs, leaves and grass. During the dry seasons they camp in portable huts, moving the cattle or sheep to well-watered lands in the flood plains.

Adamawa Fulani men hunt, trade livestock and tend to the herds. While the older men exercise the leadership of the tribes, it is the duty of the younger men to move the herds. Young boys are responsible for helping their older brothers with the herds. The women usually milk the cattle and sell butter in the markets.

Over the years, some of the Adamawa Fulani have advanced from being exclusively livestock herders to being scholarly, influential leaders in their communities. These people are likely to become political leaders in Nigeria.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Fulani are a proud people who teach their young children to have dignity. The Adamawa Fulani are expected to follow a code of high moral behavior known as Pulaaku. Pulaaku extols virtues such as kindness, bravery, patience, tolerance, perseverance, honesty, diligence, generosity and dignity. To be reserved is part of being dignified; thus, they are shy and modest in public. A mother does not show affection to her infant son. In fact, she never even calls her firstborn by his name all throughout his life.

In terms of spiritual beliefs, the Adamawa Fulani are almost entirely Sunni Muslim with many animistic beliefs blended in.


What Are Their Needs?

Like just about any people group in rural Nigeria, the Adamawa Fulani need drinkable water and medical care. They are usually far from adequate medical facilities.


Prayer Points

Pray for abundant rain for the Adamawa Fulani as a testimony of God's love and power.
Pray for compassionate believers to take Christ to the Adamawa Fulani people.
Pray for courage and safety for missionaries who venture into Adamawa Province to take the gospel of peace.
Pray for a church planting movement among the Adamawa Fulani people.


Scripture Prayers for the Fulani, Adamawa in Nigeria.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

Source:  The Waiting World     

People Name General Fulani, Adamawa
People Name in Country Fulani, Adamawa
Natural Name Adamawa Fulani
Pronunciation ah-dah-MAH-wah foo-LAH-nee
Alternate Names Adamawa; Bagirmi Fulani; Falata; Fellata; Fula; Fulata; Fulba Kita; Fulfulde-Fulani; Gewe; Gueve; Igboro Fulani; Kano-Katsina; Puel; Sudanese Fula; Toroobe; Voila
Population this Country 1,723,000
Population all Countries 5,260,000
Total Countries 7
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 34
PeopleID3 11774
ROP3 Code 103079
Country Nigeria
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 6  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Taraba and Adamawa states: Yola area.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Nigeria
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 6  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Taraba and Adamawa states: Yola area..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Fulani, Adamawa in Nigeria Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.05 %)
0.05 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
99.05 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Fulfulde, Adamawa (1,723,000 speakers)
Language Code fub   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Fulfulde, Adamawa (1,723,000 speakers)
Language Code fub   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Fulfulde, Adamawa

Primary Language:  Fulfulde, Adamawa

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1919-1966)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1963-1964)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1983-2023)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Fulfulde, Adamawa Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Walking with Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Deftere Allah Internet Publishing Sevice
Mobile App Android Bible app: Fulfulde, Adamawa YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Dictionary app: English-Fulfulde Dictionary Internet Publishing Sevice
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Fulfulde, Adamawa YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Anton Ivanov - Shutterstock  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Video Source The Waiting World
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


Joshua Project logo    Terms of Use   Privacy Policy   Contact Us   Copyright © 2024