January, 2002

Fula Culture
by Sam

In Africa, there was a very civilized culture that established thier territories in West Africa. They called themselves the Fula. To begin with, the land they lived in was green grassy plains and mighty mountains. This land was rich with minerals, such as bauxite. It truly was a beautiful place to be in.

Next, the Fula may have lived in Africa, but they were taller, and their skin was lighter than other Africans. They wore their silky hair long, and liked to wear sandals on their feet. Besides the looks of the Fula, they were pastoral people, and had a complex government. Those who were expected to be in political leadership, would be well versed in their Islamic religion in Timbukto when they reached the age of twelve.

Last, these people had enemies, the Mandingo, or any other unknown tribe. One group of the Mandingo were white men wanting to take the Africans into bondage. Many Fula people, their leader Ibrahima, and Africans of many different tribes, were taken away from their homes, beaten, packed by the hundreds on ships, and brought to America.

The Fula people were a great tribe. They had beautiful lands, a well-established government, until the white man came. They still had a very advanced culture even if many of their people were taken into bondage. Their strong government would probably worked it out.

Ibrahima page
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Background image of 'Into Bondage' by Aaron Douglas 1936