Fulani ancestors are linked to North and West Africa, the Green Sahara period, and ancient Berber groups, and are shaped by migration, trade and pastoralism.
Researchers are tracking the origins and genetic diversity of Fulani, one of Africa's largest pastoral groups. Their findings reveal complex ancestors shaped by historical transitions with genetic influences from both North and West Africa. These movements have largely shaped the genetic makeup of Fulani over time.
Fulani speaks the Niger Congo family's language and is widely distributed across the Sahel and Savannah regions, from the Atlantic Ocean to Lake Chad. Despite their wide distribution, the origins of their ancestors remain uncertain. This uncertainty is largely due to their nomadic lifestyle, which relies primarily on temporary camps and mobile tents, with little or no archaeological evidence left.
“Even though Fulani is a population group of over 40 million people, they are still primarily underestimated in genomics studies. Therefore, this study focuses on the history of Fulani population, particularly in Africa in general, and in general. It has important implications for understanding human diversity,” says Cesar Fortes Lima, a population geneticist at Johns Hopkins University and Uppsala University and the first author of the study.
Published in the American Journal of Human Genetics, the study was conducted in seven African countries in the Sahelbert, in collaboration with Fulani communities and local researchers. The researchers collected biological samples and anthropological information from over 460 Fulani participants across 18 locations across Africa.
Genetics shaped by interactions with various local groups
The team found a correlation between culture, geography, and genetics that matches the distribution of Fulani group groups.
“Our analysis reveals genetic differences between local Fulani populations following the West East Klein, and the complexity shaped by interactions with different local groups and different demographic events. “It highlighted genetic history” Prague was involved in the study.
This study highlights the importance of the lifestyle of the Fulani population. Their self-sufficiency strategies as nomadic pastoralists, along with their geographical distribution, influenced genetic diversity among local Fulani populations.
It can be traced back to the green Sahara era
The author also reveals genetic elements closely related to all Fulani populations studied, and may be related to the beginning of African pastoralism in the green Sahara period from 12,000 to 5,000 years ago. It suggests sexually shared ancestor elements.
“Comparison of Fulani and ancient individual genetic data has identified the presence of genetic elements in all Fulani populations associated with ancient North African groups, particularly deep genetic history with Moroccan populations such as Belba. It provides additional insight into ancient contacts,” says Karina Schrebusch, evolutionary geneticist at Uppsala University and senior author of the study.
Furthermore, Fulani populations show genetic contributions from other African groups in western, central, and Eastern sub-Saharan Africa.
“For the past 500 years, sub-Saharan trade may have played a pivotal role in fostering the development of Fulani's broad trade network, and in addition to the Sahelbert and subsequent African pastoralism. “It has made it even more possible to spread the word.” Schlebusch says.
See: “Population History and Mixture of the Fulani People from the Sahel,” Cesar A. Fortes Lima, Mam Y. Diallo, Vakrav Janowshek, Victor Chernie, Karina M. Schrebusch, February 6, 2025, USA General American magazine.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2024.12.015
Funding: European Research Council, Knut Och Och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse, The Agency of the Czech Republicthe Czech Academy of Sciences Awards Praemium Academy, the Bertill Landman Foundation in Sweden, the Marcus Borgstrom Foundation in Sweden, and the Royal Physiological Society of Lund.
