Over the years, some of the Fula have changed from being exclusively herdsmen, to part-time herdsmen, part-time farmers. Some have even become educated and influential leaders in their communities. Today, they are grouped and named according to their dialect, location, and occupation. The Fula of Benin occupy the northern and central regions of the country. They speak Fulfulde, a Niger-Congo language.

Although the Fula are considered to be "backward" nomads by other groups in Benin, they consider themselves beautiful, dignified people. The Fula take much pride in their distinctions from non-Fula people.

What are their lives like?
The Fula of Benin are primarily shepherds, and their lives revolve around their herds. In the rainy season, cattle and goats graze on the lush fertile land near the village. During the dry season, the cattle and goats are taken to other areas where they dig large wells in order to water them. These areas are sometimes crop land for nearby farmers. Although some crops may be eaten or trampled by the herds, no ill-feelings linger, since the manure left behind provides fertilizer for the next season's crops.

For the nomadic Fula, cattle are their most important possessions since they symbolize wealth and status. The more cattle a man owns, the more respect he is given; and a bride may be chosen according to the amount of cattle she owns.

The Fula consume milk daily as their main food. Milk is very important to their diet, since they eat little meat and few vegetables. Butter and goat cheese are often traded at the markets for grain and other items. Millet is used each day in a porridge for the evening meal.

During the dry season, the Fula live in portable shelters made of flexible twigs covered with leaves and grass mats. Temporary corrals for the herds surround each hut. Boys over 15 years old do their work under the direction and supervision of their fathers. They dig wells and water the herds, while their younger brothers help by running errands for them.

During the rainy season, the wuro (village) is the center of Fula society. Women care for the children; prepare butter, cheese, and daily meals; tend to the household gardens; and gather wild rice and berries. The men tend to the herds and make their own clothes. Making clothes is a way a man can express himself and show his individuality and personality.

What are their beliefs?
The Fula of Benin, like many other Fula groups, believe that it is a sign of weakness to be controlled by fear; thus, they seldom show fear in public. Fula boys are initiated into manhood in a somewhat unusual manner. Friends who are being initiated beat each other over the chest with their walking sticks. No sign of pain is to be shown, and there should be a willingness to receive more affliction. Some have died in this procedure, but the many that do live proudly show their scars as marks of honor.

The Fula fear being alone or disliked. They often talk with friends to overcome the feeling of solitude. However, this need for company is concealed in public, as the Fula tend to hide their feelings. Only through songs do they express such things as love or the need for others.

What are their needs?
The Fula of Benin are 97% Muslim. The New Testament, the Jesus film, and some Christian broadcasts are already available in their native language. However, the large effort to evangelize these people has produced only a very small number of converts. Much prayer and intercession are still needed to bring these nomads to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Prayer Points

• Ask the Holy Spirit to grant wisdom and favor to the missions agencies that are currently targeting the Fula.
• Ask the Lord to anoint the showing of the Jesus film, with many conversions resulting.
• Ask God to anoint the Gospel as it goes forth via radio in their area.
• Pray that God will reveal Himself to the Fula through dreams and visions.
• Take authority over the spiritual principalities and powers that have kept the Fula bound for many generations.
• Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through worship and intercession.
• Ask the Lord to soften the hearts of the Fula so that they will be receptive to the Gospel.
• Pray for strong local churches to be planted among the Fula.

See also the following related groups: the Adawama Fulani of Cameroon; the Bagirmi Fula of Chad and the Central African Republic; the Bauchi Fulani of Nigeria; the Benin/Togo Fulani of Togo; the Bororo Fulani of Cameroon; the Fula of Burkina Faso; the Fula Jalon of Guinea, Mali, Senegal, and Sierra Leone; the Fula Kita of Mali; the Fula Macina of Mali and Maruitania; the Fula Toro of Senegal; the Fula Kunda of Guinea Bissau, and Senegal; The Fulani of Chad, Gambia, and Sudan; the Gurma Fulani of Burkina Faso; the Krio Fula of Sierra Leone; the Sokoto Fulani of Niger and Nigeria; the Liptako Fula of Burkina Faso; the Toroobe Fulani of Nigeria; and the Western Fulani of Niger.

THE PEOPLE

• People name: Fula
• Country: Benin
• Their language: Fulfulde (Peulh)
• Population: (1990) 217,300
  (1995) 253,700
  (2000) 293,900
• Largest religion: Muslim (Sunni) 97%
  Ethnic Religionist 2%
• Christians: 1%
• Church members: 2,537
• Scriptures in their own language: New Testament
• Jesus Film in their own language: Available
• Christian broadcasts in their own language: Available
• Mission agencies working among this people: 2
• Persons who have heard the Gospel: 111,600 (44%) Those evangelized by local Christians: 17,800 (7%)
  Those evangelized from the outside: 93,800 (37%)
• Persons who have never heard the Gospel: 142,100 (56%)

• Country: Benin
• Population: (1990) 4,633,100
  (1995) 5,409,100
  (2000) 6,265,900
• Major peoples in size order: Fon 26%
  Bariba 7.1%
  Yoruba 6.7%
  Adja 6.3%
  Gun 6.1%
• Major religions: Ethnic religionist 50.4%
  Christian 31.7%
  Muslim 17.4%
• Number of denominations: 19