So, I thought I might drop here some elements of Fulbe [Fulani] cosmogony, that were prevalent before the advent of Islam.

I have just translated some passages of the glossary of Koumen, the translation of an initiation rite, that was used to teach gaynaako [herders] about traditions. It was collected by Amadou Hampâté Bâ (1900-1990) of Mali, sometime in the first part of the 20th century, in Senegal. I hope you will enjoy it.


Geno

The Creator, a name derived from the root yenɗude: eternal, class o. This term has survived the deep conversion of Fulɓe elites to Islam. It is common in both the oral discourse in the literature ajami Pular / Fulani. Consult Tierno Muhammadu Samba Mombeya.

A famous traditional poem begins thus:

"Geno, the Eternal Lord first created the cow. Then he created the woman, only then the Pullo. He put the woman behind the cow. He put the Pullo behind the woman. It is what the genesis of the drover says, it is what makes the holy trinity of the pastor. Glory to the Creator of all things - the chaos and light; the full egg and the great void! Frrom the drop of milk, he extracted the universe; the teat, he brought out the word. Nomadic speech, longest river of milk that multiplies the meanders between deserts and forests to say and repeat the incredible adventure of Fulɓe."


Dundari: an epithet of Geno. Synonym of gold and knowledge

toɓɓere, n. sing.(pl.toɓɓe),
Means a drop: Basis of Fulbe cosmogony, who conceive the universe as the creation of Geno, from a "drop of milk" containing the four elements (earth, water, air, fire), the four cardinal points (north, south, east, west) and the four Fulbe original clans (Ba, Bari, Jallo, Soo), and from which came ndurbeele the hermaphrodite ox, symbol of creation, progenitor of the first 22 cattle.

Neɗɗo: The primordial man. First being created by Geno, ancestor of mankind

Kiikala: First man, created by Geno. Ancestor of Fulbe/Fulani.

Naagara: First woman, created by Geno. Ancestor of Fulbe/Fulani.

Buytoorin: Eldest of the twelve children (seven son and five daughters) of Kiikala and Naagara.

Caamaba: divinity personified by a giant snake living in the rivers. Guardian of Geno's herds on Earth. Adopted twin brother of Ilo Yalaadi Jaaje Saadiga Sangaré Bodewal Maghaama.

Ilo: of Yalaaji (ie the Red-eared), twin brother of the Caamaba after of the latter's adoption by the Yalaji family. He's the epitome of the perfect traditional Fulani, fair and generous, hospitable yet prickly, who understood the language of the wind, of the cattle and of the bush. He's Ilo Yaladi Jaaje Saadiga Sangaré Bodewal Maghama (Ilo son of the red-eared one (Yalaadi), son of Jaaje, son of Sadiga the fair-skinned [Bodewal] and great man [Maghaama]. Forgot the meaning of Sangaré

Kumen: god who can take many shapes (most often as dwarf), auxiliary and shepherd of the Camaaba, custodian of the secrets of pastoral initiation, charged by Geno to watch over the land, pastures and domestic and wild animals.

Foroforondu: wife of Kumen. Deity of milk and butter. Tutelary goddess of the kaggu and ngaynirki

kaggu: altar of the shepherds where pastoral tools and utensils are kept (gourds, gourds, clothing except shoes)

ngaynirki: concoction of plants kept in a gourd above the kaggu. It is supposed to enhances "the fertilizing power of bulls" and multiply the cattle.

Tongo & Rongo: malicious deities of the wild, antagonists of Kumen [and herders]

Another traditional hymn, "The Seven Forbidden", that might be interesting. I translated it from French (and it was translated from Pulaar).

1. O Great Solar Disk of Mercy [The Sun is considered as the eye of Geno]
2. Who stands up as a messenger of the Lord-Geno!
3. May peace be everywhere enlightened by your radiant smiles.
4. Thy Loving Eye protect our offspring remained in camps
5. As our scattered flocks in sacred pastures.
6. We shall certainly deserve Your Bounty
7. At the cost of our heifers, our stallions and the blood of our young warriors.
8. We, children of Fulani agree
9. The seven vows that never ever, we will disown:
10. We will not steal
11. Two: we will not lie;
12. Three: we will never be fearful;
13. Four: we will never betray;
14. Five: we do not alienate kinship;
15. Six: we will never break a compact or our word;
16. Seven: any property will be shared and we will never infringe on anybody's rights.
17. By the seven vows that never ever, we will disown,
18. We will walk on the path of the life of the Fulani, which we inherited
19. From the all Father, Kikaala, our ancestor
20. And Mother Naagara, the purpose of all things.
21. By these seven vows that never ever, we will disown
22. By the virtues of milk and butter.
23. By these seven vows that never ever, we will disown
24. We call as witness
25. Foroforondu, Eldest of the dairy women.
26. She who is the guardian of the Kelli stirring ladle, the bucket Eri and the large bowl in Baddi.
27.She who truly knows how to unravel all that is said in the canteen and in the milkskin.
28. By these seven vows that never ever, we will disown
29. Before Kuumen, Eldest of the shepherds
30. He, to whom Geno-Dundaari the LORD Almighty entrusted the sacred pastures,
31. Rivers and ponds, domestic and wild animals.
32. It is He who holds the shepherd's staff of secrecy [Nelbi] and milking rope.
33. It is He Who knows how to flatter the spirit of Ndurbeele and order the precession of the cattle herd.
34. It is He who knows how to guide the Koobi, drive deer, gazelles and antelopes in the high bush of Tuula- Heela.
35. By these seven vows that never ever, we will disown
36. We implore the gracious Caamaaba, of the ninety-six golden scales
37. Make us wealthy in cattle and healthy in our bodies.
38. By these seven vows that never ever, we will disown,
39. May Geno-the Lord and Almighty grants us life, honor and salvation
40. As It has bestowed the Ostrich in the vast continental spaces,
41. In the countries of the east and west,
42. In the vast tawny expanses of the Sahel, and the wet and fertile black lands, up to the Oceans.

Thank you Gorko Susaay. This is very excellent information. Judging by your name, I can tell you are Pullo as well. Mi hofni ma bandiraawo Pullo

Fulaman198:
Thank you Gorko Susaay. This is very excellent information. Judging by your name, I can tell you are Pullo as well. Mi hofni ma bandiraawo Pullo

You are welcome bandaam, ey ko mi pullo leydi Senegal (Fouta-Toro). I thought it might be interesting to share it out there. There's a lot of poems and hymns about pre-islamic Fulbe traditions but they are mostly in French.
A jaraama e mi salminaama sehilam

GorkoSusaay:


You are welcome bandaam, ey ko mi pullo leydi Senegal (Fouta-Toro). I thought it might be interesting to share it out there. There's a lot of poems and hymns about pre-islamic Fulbe traditions but they are mostly in French.
A jaraama e mi salminaama sehilam

Min fof (fuu), min mi Pullo leydi Nigeria, ha hima leydi Adamawa. Woodi Maasin bandam GorkoSusaay! Hakkilo a wodi Sam! Eyyo bandiraawo, mido yidi andugol dum woni 'Mbeguel'? A jaraama sanne!

Fulaman198:


Min fof (fuu), min mi Pullo leydi Nigeria, ha hima leydi Adamawa. Woodi Maasin bandam GorkoSusaay! Hakkilo a wodi Sam! Eyyo bandiraawo, mido yidi andugol dum woni 'Mbeguel'? A jaraama sanne!

A jaraama once again. You will kill me of laughter. Wolofma laabi, an kaa modibbo

But they are breaking the 7th vow every time when they infringe the rights of Nigerians daily.

GorkoSusaay:


A jaraama once again. You will kill me of laughter. Wolofma laabi, an kaa modibbo

Toh (ok) a jaraama sanne! A nani Wolof?

Fulaman198:

Toh (ok) a jaraama sanne! A nani Wolof?

Yes, I do. Born and bred in Dakar.

Dnacode:
But they are breaking the 7th vow every time when they infringe the rights of Nigerians daily.

I suppose sinners and transgressors are to be found everywhere

GorkoSusaay:

Yes, I do. Born and bred in Dakar.


I suppose sinners and transgressors are to be found everywhere

But theirs is a grave sin as its their traditional vow.
I now totally understand what their cow means to them TRADITIONALLY as its d first of creation but they r now Muslims so y still attach such an importance to cows to the extent of killing everybody?

Also how shd we de-islamize the Fulani n revert them back to their traditional religious views(especially because of number 38 above) cos I think it will be better for everyone.

I think Christians should take a look into Fulani's traditional system to get them off being terrorists.

Dnacode:


But theirs is a grave sin as its their traditional vow.
I now totally understand what their cow means to them TRADITIONALLY as its d first of creation but they r now Muslims so y still attach such an importance to cows to the extent of killing everybody?

Also how shd we de-islamize the Fulani n revert them back to their traditional religious views(especially because of number 38 above) cos I think it will be better for everyone.

I think Christians should take a look into Fulani's traditional system to get them off being terrorists.

It is more a traditional ideal than a religious thing really.
I don't think most Fulani are so attached to the cattle as our forefathers were. We have settled since centuries now, and these traditions are only to be found among the nomadic.

Why would you want to de-Islamize people? It's a waste of time I fear.
I agree with you. Much knowledge can be found in our traditions

GorkoSusaay:


It is more a traditional ideal than a religious thing really.
I don't think most Fulani are so attached to the cattle as our forefathers were. We have settled since centuries now, and these traditions are only to be found among the nomadic.

Why would you want to de-Islamize people? It's a waste of time I fear.
I agree with you. Much knowledge can be found in our traditions

What's ur religion my dear?

It's amazing how almost all west African people have traditions of symbolizing river spirits with snakes

macof:
It's amazing how almost all west African people have traditions of symbolizing river spirits with snakes

Yes, it's as if it all came from a common origin. I think it is linked to fertility cycles in some ways: the Sarki in the Hausa cosmogony controlled the peoples' access to water and had to be killed by Bayajidda.

The Camaaba, lives in the rivers, and gives wealth to those that he likes.

The Bida (of the Soninké people) wanted the yearly sacrifice of the fairest maiden of the land in exchange for the protection of the peoples.

Even in the Greek mythologies, we find similar themes (cf. Perseus, Andromeda and the kraken).

Anything similar among other Nigerian ethnicities?

Dnacode:


What's ur religion my dear?

Muslim. But does it matter in our discussion?

macof:
It's amazing how almost all west African people have traditions of symbolizing river spirits with snakes

That's because it's the same tradition. West Africans have lived under multiethnic states for a long time. We are more alike that we would like to admit.

But theirs is a grave sin as its their traditional vow.
I now totally understand what their cow means to them TRADITIONALLY as its d first of creation but they r now Muslims so y still attach such an importance to cows to the extent of killing everybody?

Also how shd we de-islamize the Fulani n revert them back to their traditional religious views(especially because of number 38 above) cos I think it will be better for everyone.

I think Christians should take a look into Fulani's traditional system to get them off being terrorists.

You want them to move away from Islam and at the same time you see the danger of being attached to their cows?
Their cows are their property just like how the farmers uses the land to provide for his needs. If we have a rational view of these issues l we can solve a lot quicker.

Omarbah:

You want them to move away from Islam and at the same time you see the danger of being attached to their cows?
Their cows are their property just like how the farmers uses the land to provide for his needs. If we have a rational view of these issues l we can solve a lot quicker.

Hey my fellow Fulani brother from Guinea! Long time! Noy kugal (golle)?

Fulaman198:


Hey my fellow Fulani brother from Guinea! Long time! Noy kugal (golle)?

Ceernam Omar Bah must discard his ugly last name first. Then I will hail him as my brother

GorkoSusaay:


Ceernam Omar Bah must discard his ugly last name first. Then I will hail him as my brother

Wait why do you not like the Bah/Ba surname? Are you a Diallo/Jallow? What do you have against the Ba surname?

Fulaman198:


Wait why do you not like the Bah/Ba surname? Are you a Diallo/Jallow? What do you have against the Ba surname?

It's an ugly name for bean-eaters haha

GorkoSusaay:


It's an ugly name for bean-eaters haha

Interesting, I have never heard of that before. Regardless of nationality and name, all Ful6e are my brothers and sisters. Mi salmini on ful6e a dunya fuu. Geno accu lawol ful6e

Fulaman198:


Interesting, I have never heard of that before. Regardless of nationality and name, all Ful6e are my brothers and sisters. Mi salmini on ful6e a dunya fuu. Geno accu lawol ful6e

You are absolutely right. I'm his handsome cousin whose last name is Diallo. Amin for the duaw

Fulaman198:


Hey my fellow Fulani brother from Guinea! Long time! Noy kugal (golle)?

Golle no jokka. Ko yettude Geno.

Omarbah:

Golle no jokka. Ko yettude Geno.

Ameen, Toh Geno jabii!

GorkoSusaay:


You are absolutely right. I'm his handsome cousin whose last name is Diallo. Amin for the duaw

You are a true comedian my brother mmj (Mi maayi jaleede)

.

Thank you for this! I am a Black American who only just discovered my Fula ancestry through DNA testing. I am eager to learn about ancient traditions and culture of the Fulani people and your thread has been very helpful in that regard. Are there other resources that you can point me to to aid my exploration?

GoddessQueen:
Thank you for this! I am a Black American who only just discovered my Fula ancestry through DNA testing. I am eager to learn about ancient traditions and culture of the Fulani people and your thread has been very helpful in that regard. Are there other resources that you can point me to to aid my exploration?

Do you read French. I can direct you to several sources in French about pre-Islamic Fulani history. And many others in French and English, about post-Islam Fulani history, from Senegambia to the confines of Adamawa/Fombina

They ping and tell me fulani has created mythology blog on internet. I say where, they said on internet. I say where in internet, they say nairaland. So I rush here to see for myself.

This is truly end time for criminals and terrorists to create a origin story and mythology.

Who gives a "f" about the eginning of terrorists, enn?

See the story sef as e get k-leg. Every human story on origin places man next to divinity, but these freaks put cow next to their divinity.

Mttcheew...tuueh! Spits on thread!

Fulaman go ahead and ban me right now.

ImperialYoruba:
They ping and tell me fulani has created mythology blog on internet. I say where, they said on internet. I say where in internet, they say nairaland. So I rush here to see for myself.

This is truly end time for criminals and terrorists to create a origin story and mythology.

Who gives a "f" about the eginning of terrorists, enn?

See the story sef as e get k-leg. Every human story on origin places man next to divinity, but these freaks put cow next to their divinity.

Mttcheew...tuueh! Spits on thread!

Fulaman go ahead and ban me right now.

This is just a very stupid post from you

macof:


This is just a very stupid post from you

You think all the blood spill by fulani na ordinary eye? They are doing so to gain material power...dominance! The blood is a sacrifice. How is the blood spillage by fulani different from the blood spillage by ritualists? Its the same, no difference.

Do you think fulaman or garkosussay will decline a position of power attained through slaughters and atrocities commited by herdsmen?

If herdsmen sack Benue people and start to ask their people to come and settle in Benue, you think garko and fulaman would turn down that prized posession because it was acquired on the blood of middlebeltans?

Garko & fulaman, speak true....if herdsmen sack Yoruba in bloodshed and give you posession of Yorubaland will you turn down an offer of waterfront on the lagoon or on the beachfront of Lekki?

Bloody terrorists, no difference between the herdsmen and non-herdsmen. Ango is not a herdsman, Sanusi is not a herdsman, Sultan is not a herdsman, Elrufai is not a herdsman....but each of them have spoken in clear terms and their sentiments remain steadfastly in support of and even taking ownership of what herdsmen are doing. Garko and fulaman are scholars like Ango, Sanusi.....dont be deceived by their scholarship.


You creep, you Yoruba f00l that call yourself macof, you come here to beat down your Yoruba brother to defend terrorist fulani. You speak bad to me to kiss your slave master @$$ and lay yourself at his feet to step on. May Oduduwa strike you!

Do you forget what Aare Gani Adams said? He said we shall strike down the enemies within. Certain Yorubas, like macof, must first be cut off before we face the enemy.


Dont make me cut you off right now bwoi!

Imperial cool down, no be everything be fight. Macof dont reply you will only make it worse. The guy made sense die for that paragraph about fulani scholars and herdsmen relationship. Truth must be told.