Daayle, Deali, Senegal. Alhajji Soh, 25, is a Fulbe (Fulani) nomadic herder of cattle, sheep and goats. When asked if he enjoys his work he says: "Sometimes I'm happy, sometimes I'm unhappy, If rainy season comes and we have grass and water I'm happy. Some years we don't have grass and water and we have to migrate,– at those times I'm unhappy." Depsite the hardships, he says: "I'd like to continue this life because it is our tradition."

Foulou, Kaele Division, Cameroon. Three semi-nomadic Mbororo Fulani friends from left to right: Fadimatou Moussa (age unknown), Hawaou Hamadou and Amin Moussa, both 15 years-old.

Ingal Department, Niger. Shay Doula, 16, is a semi-nomadic herder from Foudouk Village. Shay is attending the Guerouwel Fulani festival (end of rainy season festival where Fulani express their cultural beauty and where men are chosen by women for marriage).

Ingal Department, Niger. Mariam Doula, 20, is a settled herder from Foudouk Village. Mariam is attending the Guerouwel Fulani festival (end of rainy season festival where Fulani express their cultural beauty and where men are chosen by women for marriage).

Ingal Department, Niger. From left to right: Juti Halilou, 32, Inoua Halilou, 40, Barti Maiji, 22. All are from Tchicoerine. They are attending the Guerouwel Fulani festival (end of the rainy season festival where Fulani express their cultural beauty and where men are chosen by women for marriage). Celebrated this year in Foudouk Village.

Ingal Department, Niger. Herdsmen from left to right: Ambola Warzagan, 20, Rebo Halilou, 22, dressed in Hennarai Fulani costume used only for the Guerouwel festival and worn during the Tchirae, an occasion where young men dance to attract women whom will select the men of their choice, even if they are married. The men are from Tchirozerine. For three or four months of the year they leave the city to search for pastures for their cattle. They are attending the Guerouwel Fulani festival (end of the rainy season festival where Fulani express their cultural beauty and where men are chosen by women for marriage). Celebrated this year in Foudouk Village.

Daayle, Deali, Senegal. Aawdi Kah. 28, is a Fulbe (Fulani) nomadic herder of goats and sheep and father of three. "I've been herding since I was nine", he says. "I bought cows, but they're gone now… three times cows miscarried and died. I sold the other cows because we don't have grass and when there's no grass they can't give birth." Asked if he wishes he could do something else he says: "Since the time of our forefathers our animals have provided us with everything: food and clothes and everything… My dream is only herding and farming because I haven't been to school so I'm afraid to do something I don't know. I only know this thing."

Dahra, Senegal. Booydo Biram Kah, 82, is head of the Daral Dahra Jolof, the cattle market in the city of Dhara that takes place every Sunday. He is a Fulbe (Fulani) nomadic herder and trader of cows. "When I was a young boy everything was good. We had grass. We had water. Now we have water but no grass. Without grass the cows will die. If they die, also we will die. Herding and breeding, it is all we can do."

Daayle, Deali, Senegal. 'Co-wives' Kura Soh, 20 (left) and Naana Soh (18). They are Fulbe (Fulani) nomads. When asked if she enjoys her nomadic life, Kura says: "It is very hard but I have to continue this life. This is all I know."

Daayle, Deali, Senegal. Usmaan Soh, 27, is a Fulbe (Fulani) nomadic herder of sheep and father of two. When asked how life is as a herder he says: "Sometime herding is hard, sometimes it's not. Now we don't have food for the animals. We have to buy it and it is hard. We have to walk five kilometers to get water and bring it back." But it's not all bad he says: "The positive thing about my life is that I am carrying on the Fulani tradition." But, he says, "I'd like to be doing something different though. I'd like to trade animals in Dakar."

Ingal Department, Niger. Dadi Dede, 65, a herdman from Aderbissanet, Tchiro Department, with the head of a slaughtered cattle. He is attending the Guerouwel Fulani festival (end of rainy season festival where Fulani express their cultural beauty and where men are chosen by women for marriage).

Ingal Department, Niger. Mariam Ribo, 15 years-old, is from Kainichi Village. She is from a semi-nomadic family of cattle and goat herders. She is attending the Guerouwel Fulani festival (end of the rainy season festival where Fulani express their cultural beauty and where men are chosen by women for marriage). Celebrated this year in Foudouk Village.

Bachacha, Dourbali, Chad. 28 year old nomadic Fulani Seid Adoum. His group have only been in Bachacha for one day and will stay two more before they continue their journey towards better grazing lands. They say that one of the reasons they have to keep moving is that farms have been established in areas where they used to graze so good sources of food, that don't put them in conflict with farmers, are hard to find. Many of the herders carry weapons to protect themselves and their animals from cattle rustlers.

Bachacha, Dourbali, Chad. 19 year old nomadic Fulani Houffa Adoum. His group have only been in Bachacha for one day and will stay two more before they continue their journey towards better grazing lands. They say that one of the reasons they have to keep moving is that farms have been established in areas where they used to graze so good sources of food, that don't put them in conflict with farmers, are hard to find. Many of the herders carry weapons to protect themselves and their animals from cattle rustlers.

Mayo-Inne, Adamawa, Nigeria. 30 year old Fatuma Saidu with her daughter Daso Saidu. Fatuma lost three of her four children and her eye in an attack on her community. She tells her story: "We were on the river bank. I was running with my children. I was carrying one child on my back, one was in front of me. My brother-in-law was carrying one of my sons on his shoulders. Someone threw a spear which struck and killed the child on his back. My five-month old fell from my back. I watched as they arrived at the child. Holding their spears in two hands they stabbed into the baby over and over again. The oldest child jumped in the river to escape. He drowned. They struck me with their machete across my back and across my face. I fell to the ground. And the fourth child, it's just God that saved her for me, to console me." On 20 November 2017 the Fulani community of Shelewol was reportedly invaded by Bachama youth, a farming and fishing people. The attack left over 100 Fulani dead. Fatuma and the other survivors were displaced in the violence.

Dowleggal, Mayo-Belwa, Adamawa, Nigeria. Six year old Fulani girl Hapsi Ahmadu had her mouth cut open and her left hand cut off in an attack of 20 November 2017 on the Fulani community of Shelewol, reportedly committed by Bachama youth, a farming and fishing people. It left over 100 Fulani dead. They were displaced in the violence.

Katummai, Bassa, Plateau State, Nigeria. Yusuf Saidu, 15, brother of deceased 12 year-old Fulani boy Yahuza Saidu who was shot dead on 13 February 2020 while out grazing. 13 cows were also shot and killed during the attack. His family says a neighboring farming community are responsible for the murder.

Bamako, Mali. Hamadoun Barry, 30, is an internally displaced nomadic herder from Anakaga Village in Koro, Mopti. He was in the village of Ogossagou in March 2019 when over 130 Fulani were killed by armed men wearing traditional Dogon hunters' clothing. "I saw them shooting and I hid. I don't know how I survived. God saved me", he says. "After the attack I came back and buried the bodies. After that I ran away." He now stays in Senou Camp in Bamako, which has been in existence since 25 March 2019, when the first displaced started arriving there after fleeing conflict in the center of the country. Hamadoun takes care of the cattle belonging to the owner of the land on which the IDP camp has been built. He doesn't wish to be there though: "I wish I didn't have to stay here one more second, but without peace we can't go back." There are 120 tents and 824 Fulani inhabitants, mostly semi-nomadic or nomadic herders at the camp. It is one of the biggest camps of internally displaced Fulani in the country.

Kaele Division, Far North, Cameroon. Binto Abdou (black scarf), Fadima Karrou (red, green, blue scarf), and Jenabou Oumarou (red scarf) are female leaders of the semi-nomadic Mbororo community in Foulou. Fadima Karrou explains that their role involves consulting on matters such as marriages and special events and giving advice to younger women as well as resolving conflicts, especially between wives.

Ashige, Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Abdul Azeez, a farmer and Peace Keeping Committee member (left), stands with fellow committee member and Fulani herder Yunusa Ali (right).