Arts
The Fulani enjoy music and art, and it is an integral part of their life. They enjoy playing the flute and drums, especially for special occasions. Work music is sung and played on drums and flutes. Court music (drumming, horns, flutes) and praise-singing and religious singers are popular in towns, especially during festivals. Most commonly, decorative art occurs in the form of architecture, or in the form of personal adornments such as jewelry, hats, clothing and facial tattoos. In their spare time, Fulani women make handicrafts including engraved gourds, weavings, knitting, and baskets. Fulani men are less involved in the production of crafts than some neighboring peoples.
Custons and Traditions
Among the nomadic Fulani, young men participate in a kind of sport known as sharro. This is a test of bravery in which young men lash each other to the point of utmost endurance. This practice is most common as men enter manhood. However, some continue it until they become elders.
Since the Fulani value beauty, men and women alike compete in beauty contests.
Since the Fulani value beauty, men and women alike compete in beauty contests.
Rites of Passage
Shortly after a child is born, a naming ceremony is held, following Islamic law and practice. Around the age of seven, boys are circumcised, followed by a small ceremony or gathering in their household. Shortly after, they begin performing herding or farming activities, sometimes on their own.
Girls are usually betrothed in marriage during their mid-teens. Boys remain sukaa'be (handsome young men) until around the age of twenty. At that time, they start a herd or obtain a farm, and marry. There are ceremonies to prepare the bride and groom for marriage. Afterward, their families sign a marriage contract under Islam. By middle age, a man may be known as a ndottijo (elder, old man) who has acquired wisdom over the years.
Girls are usually betrothed in marriage during their mid-teens. Boys remain sukaa'be (handsome young men) until around the age of twenty. At that time, they start a herd or obtain a farm, and marry. There are ceremonies to prepare the bride and groom for marriage. Afterward, their families sign a marriage contract under Islam. By middle age, a man may be known as a ndottijo (elder, old man) who has acquired wisdom over the years.
Marriage
Following the teaching of Islam, the Fulani allow a man up to 4 wives However, a man is to only take additional wives if he is able to support them. In the rural areas it is typical for a young man of 18 - 22 to marry as he is able to acquire the finances needed. He must have enough money to present to the bride's family so they can purchase the necessary items to establish a new home and pay for the ceremony. The prices are even more expensive for the men in the cities and they typically do not marry until the late 20's. For the girls, it is not uncommon to be married as early as 13 - 15. The girls in the city tend not to marry until the later teen years .
Ideally, the Fulani do not practice birth control because the perfect or model Fulani marriage will produce many children. No special value is placed on virginity, and women are not shy about boasting about their various experiences. In fact, the Fulani expect young women to bring sexual experience to marriage.
Their first choice of a marriage partner is a patrilateral parallel cousin. If that is not possible, their other choices are for the partners to share a great-grandfather, a great-great grandfather, or a patrilateral cross cousin.
Ideally, the Fulani do not practice birth control because the perfect or model Fulani marriage will produce many children. No special value is placed on virginity, and women are not shy about boasting about their various experiences. In fact, the Fulani expect young women to bring sexual experience to marriage.
Their first choice of a marriage partner is a patrilateral parallel cousin. If that is not possible, their other choices are for the partners to share a great-grandfather, a great-great grandfather, or a patrilateral cross cousin.
Religion
Fulani religion is largely Islamic. As Muslims, the Fulani observe the standard Islamic religious practices. They pray five times a day, learn to recite the holy scriptures (Qur'an, or Koran ) by heart, and give alms to the needy. For one month each year (Ramadan) they fast in the daytime. And at least once in their lifetime, they make a pilgrimage (hajj) to the Islamic holy land in Mecca. The most important duty is to declare one's true faith in Islam and believe that Muhammad was a prophet sent by Allah (God).
Major holidays
All Fulani participate in Islamic holidays (Id). The most important are the feast after the fasting period (Ramadan) and the feast celebrating the birth of the Prophet Muhammad. On these days, people pray in thanksgiving to Allah, visit their relatives, prepare special meals, and exchange gifts such as gowns or cloth.