At a camp of the Woodabe Fulani nomads during their migration into Fur area towards the end of the rainy season. The Fulani are found in the Sahel/Savannah zone from Senegal to the border of Ethiopia. As cattle herders they compete with the Baggara Arabs for pasture and water.
Southern Darfur.
Photo: Gunnar Haaland, 1973
A woman of the Woodabe Fulani is loading the family’s household equipment, preparing to move further north into the Fur area.
Southern Darfur.
Photo: Gunnar Haaland, 1973
Fulani herders of the Woodabe tribe lead a herd of longhorn cattle (called “kuri” in Sudan, not to be confused with the “kuri” cattle race of Lake Chad) on the migrations from Central African Republic into dry season pastures in Darfur. The Fulani have a remarkable control over their livestock and can lead them with verbal commands. Note the Fulani clothing that differs from that used by Baggara nomads. The Fulani are in Sudan frequently referred to as “Fellata”, a term that is applied to people coming from West Africa in general. In Darfur, the term “Fellata” is also used for one of the Baggara Arab tribes who have their own district and administration with headquarter in Tullus. Within the Fellata tribe there is a subunit (“omodiya” in Arabic) at Gereida that the Fullani nomads are attached to. To distinguish the Fullani herders from the Fellata Baggara they are usually referred to as Umbororo Fellata.
Tullus district, Southern Darfur.
Photo: Gunnar Haaland, 1973
A couple of the Weila Fulani is setting up their tent towards the end of the rainy season. The Fulani nomads generally move into the Fur area before the Baggara Arabs and they are also the first to move southwards as the rain approaches.
Near Nyertete, Western foothills of Jebel Marra, Western Darfur.
Photo: Gunnar Haaland, 1965
A Fulani nomad of the Weila tribe is demonstrating his skills as an archer. The typical Fulani weapons are the bow and arrow, in contrast to the lance (Arabic: “shalaqaiya”) that is the typical weapon of the Baggara nomads.
Near Nyertete in the western foothills of Jebel Marra, Western Darfur.
Photo: Gunnar Haaland, 1965
