Fulani, Toroobe of Nigeria

Population:  8,053,000

Primary Religion:  Islam (99.70%)

Christian:  0.30%

Evangelical:  0.05%

Persecution Rank:  13

Language:  Hausa

Fulani religion is largely, if not wholly, Islamic. Although there are varying degrees of orthodoxy exhibited throughout Fulani society, most adhere to at least some of the basic requirements of the religion. It is usually the case that the wealthy and powerful are among the most religious, while those who have fewer resources are less likely to observe their religion so strictly. Islam has been used to justify the holy jihads that brought the northern territories of modern day Nigeria under Fulani leadership. It was not unusual that such political and economic gains would be made for the Fulani empire in the name of Islam.

Fulani are mainly nomadic herders and traders. The routes they established in western Africa provided extensive links throughout the region that fostered economic and political ties between otherwise isolated ethnic groups. Dairy products produced from Fulani cattle were traded to sedentary farmers for agricultural products and luxury items. Fulani traders then traded these luxury items between various groups along their nomadic routes. Members of individual Fulani clans often settled down among their sedentary neighbors, intermarrying and establishing trading contacts for future business transactions.

Prayer Points

• Pray for Christians and nonbelievers in the middle of the violence and unrest in Northern Nigeria, due in large part to Boko Haram, a terrorist group opposed to Christians and western education.  Pray, also, for those who make up Boko Haram.
• Pray that the Fulani people would see the futility of their labor and their inability to save themselves.
• Pray that God would show them the falsehood of Islam and that their hearts would be softened toward the gospel of the one true God in Christ.
• Pray that laborers would be sent out into the harvest.

This information was gathered from Joshua Project.  For more go to Operation World.