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October 25, 2015

1983 BURKINA FASO - A Fula woman


The Fula people (or Fulani or Fulɓe), numbering approximately 20 million people, are one of the most widely dispersed and culturally diverse of the peoples of Africa. They are spread, in larger or smaller proportion, from Sudan to Mauritania, and from Egypt to Central African Republic, being bound together by the common language of Fulfulde, as well as by some basic elements of Fulbe culture, such as the pulaaku, a code of conduct.

A significant proportion of their number are nomadic, making them the largest pastoral nomadic group in the world. Fula society in most parts of West Africa features the caste divisions typical of the region. They herd cattle, goats and sheep across the vast dry hinterlands of their domain, keeping somewhat separate from the local agricultural populations. Women in their spare time make handicrafts including engraved gourds, weavings, knitting, beautifully made covers for calabashes known as mbeedu, and baskets.

There are no particular outfits for all Fulani sub-groups; dressing and clothing accessories such as ornaments mostly depend on the particular region. The Fulani women are very graceful in nature. Their long hair is put into five long braids that either hang or are sometimes looped on the sides. It is common for women and girls to have silver coins and amber attached to their braids. Some of these coins are very old and have been passed down in the family.

About the stamp
The stamp depict the coat of arms of Burkina Faso.

References
Fula people - Wikipedia

Sender: Holger Kaufhold
Sent from Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), on 10.03.2015

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