The Fulani Culture from a Modern Day Fula
According to studies, Fulani people are between 20 to 25 million people in total and they originate from West Africa mainly Guinea. Although I have learned about my culture from parents who are Fulani, there are many different beliefs about where the Fulani people stem from especially since they are a nomadic tribe.My reason for writing this essay is to inform others about the origins of Fulani and African culture that has now flooded the media and has been integrated into African-American culture, through my experiences as a Fula and an African-American.
For one, most men prior to the baby boomer generation are polygynous. As a result I have 3 grandmothers on my mother’s side and 4 from my father’s side. There are many cousins I have yet to meet as a result of my big family, but that does not mean I do not connect with my distant family members. Polygynous marriages in Africa are rare now because women’s right movements have gained more awareness. The social structure of the Fulani people is incredibly complex, however I will simplify it. Most Fulani people are among of the struggling poor and a relatively small number live in wealth. The reason for this is the fact that social mobility in Africa not just amongst the Fulani people is incredibly rigid. With only a few resources to go around most poor Fula are not able to take advantage of opportunities to move up in society. Hence many of the middle class Fulani people who can afford to voyage to America take that opportunity to achieve the ever-so-famous American Dream. My parents were among these middle class Fulbe. My Dad or Baba, as I call him, came to America in the 1980s for a chance to build a legacy and achieve a level of success that was not possible in Guinea. He started off by washing cars in New York to pay off his student loans, although he married my mom before he came, he did not have enough money to support two people. Although it took an extra two years to live happily under one roof, my dad always tells me it was worth it because me and my 3 other siblings are able to access resources unavailable in Africa such as quality education, the internet, clean water, safer communities, better healthcare, and the list goes on. Our story is not the perfect American dream but it does remind me a lot of the hilarious movie Coming to America starring Eddie Murphy. Although fiction, Coming to America does resemble many African immigrants voyage to America and the tough transitions they had to make.
However before many Fulbe freely chose to voyage to America, there were taken captive by Europeans to the Americas. During the years between the 16th and 19th century many Fulbe were taken as slaves to work cotton and sugar plantations in both Latin and North America. Slavery caused a significant change for not only the lives of many Africans but also the culture and traditions of many African nations. My family has told me stories about how many Africans would burn history books and libraries to prevent their captures from discovering their traditions, remedies, national treasures, etc. Although slavery existed in Africa prior to the arrivals of the Europeans, it was never as harsh because it was not hereditary, the slave laws were not as strict, and for many it was only temporary. Many beautiful and culturally enriched Fulani names such as Amadou and Binta were changed by their authoritarian owners, which became an another example of Fulani culture being erased through slavery. However generations later, as many slaves were uprooted from their families and sold elsewhere, they either forgot or never even got to know their Fulani culture. Therefore they created a culture of their own, one as equally beautiful, with their own unique songs, dances, languages, religions, and names.
However, namesakes is only a small-scale example of how Fulani culture has slowly integrated into African-American culture. In modern day America, African culture is finally being celebrated through the media with movies, music, clothing, etc. For instance the movie Black Panther stars African-Americans and Africans as superheroes in a fictional realm in Africa. The movie has given black children role models who look like them and allowed the celebration of African culture. By being integrated into African-American culture, Fulani culture is also celebrated in indirect ways as well. For instance rap and hip-hop music that originated from blacks who musically expressing their hardships of being a black American. These songs resemble Fulani music especially those that the poor sang because of their inability to move up in society. Another way Fulani and other African cultures are being celebrated is the recent trend in wearing braids for style. As a result of our thick, coarse, and curly hair we put our hair in braids to keep our locks in place. Now millions maybe even billions of women and men are wearing their hair in African style braids and wear African styles head wraps as well. My mom even owns an African hair braiding salon to meet the demands of this trend.
As a Fula and an African American I have been taught about the origins of my heritage through my family, but other African Americans have not been so lucky as a result of slavery. Heck, even people outside the Fulani race have something to gain from learning about the Fulani origins and cultures which has now been integrated into African American culture. Through my grandparents I have learned about the perplexity of Fulani polygynous marriages. From my mother and her employees at her hair salon, I learned the best way to style and care for my African hair. Although I do not know of any slaves in my family, but other African-Americans and history has taught me about slavery and how it marked a significant change in African culture and the beginning of African-American culture. My knowledge and experience has shaped me into a modern day Fulani-American. To be a modern day Fula is to have close relations with family no matter how distant they are from you because as a result of slavery families have been torn apart and forgotten in history. As a modern day Fula I have recognized that my family, culture, and beliefs is very different from that of black Americans, but that does not stop me from befriending them because we are more similar than different. Modern day Africans are well aware of the cultural appropriation of our hair styles and culture and the vexing recent celebration of Africa culture after years of oppression. I am more than proud to be a Fula and promote this by wearing my African clothing on special occasions such as my schools picture day. In addition, I prepare Fulani cuisines for not only family but also friends because I believed African food is underrated by society and does not receive enough praise. Through this article I hope to not only spread Fulani culture but to also preserve it as African culture is being integrated into American culture and its origins are being forgotten.
Work Cited
Anter, Tarig. “Who Are the Fulani People & Their Origins?” Modern Ghana, Modern Ghana, 9 Sept. 2011, www.modernghana.com/news/349849/1/who-are-the-fulani-people-their-origins.html.
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Fulani.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 6 May 2014, www.britannica.com/topic/Fulani.
“‘Coming to America’ Sequel: What to Keep & What to Change.” Outtake by Tribeca Shortlist, Outtake by Tribeca Shortlist, 14 Apr. 2017, outtake.tribecashortlist.com/coming-to-america-gets-a-sequel-what-to-keep-and-what-to-change-80040ec41481.
“Fula People.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 1 June 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fula_people.
“Mo Ni Ife Afrika.” Pinterest, www.pinterest.com/pin/334392341067344148/.
Reporter, Staff. “Fulani Online News Media.” 2015, 1 Jan. 1970, fulanionlinenewsmedia.blogspot.com/2015/.
“The Fulani Ethnic Group Nigeria » Facts.ng.” Facts.ng, 8 Nov. 2014, www.facts.ng/culture/tribes-languages/the-fulani-ethnic-group-nigeria/.
“Why New Guinea Islanders Are among the Most Genetically Diverse People in the World.” Genetic Literacy Project, Genetic Literacy Project, 12 Jan. 2018, geneticliteracyproject.org/2017/09/20/new-guinea-islanders-among-genetically-diverse-people-world/.