₦airaland Forum

Yeah, you proved it -to yourself

shymexx: Thanks, bro.

This argument is redundant now.

I already proved that the Mandika are politically, economically, and culturally superior to the Fulani's. And that's just one tribe in West Africa.

Most of these people are just myopic lackeys who think Africa starts and ends in Nigeria. SMFDH. You can throw in the Tauregs(The Kings/Lions of the Sahara) in there and their influence from Chad, to Niger, to Mali, to Algeria, to Libya in the mix.

I agree with you and we are making efforts to bring part some of our history. You may check out some historical articles on Nigeria and Nigerians at .com, actually, we just finished a detailed article on Herbert Macaulay and you can read it here>>>>http://.com/herbert-macaulay-nigerias-father-of-nationalism/

Chxta: A few years ago, I listened with a bit of disbelief as a friend of mine told me that she had no idea of who Herbert Macaulay was. What was shocking to me then was that she was a first class degree holder from a Nigerian university, and had grown up in my generation. However at that point in time, I did not find her lack of knowledge horrifying.

Move the clock forward a few years, and I'm now older and wiser. Thus it was that I listened in horror this Saturday past when a young lady who just finished from secondary school and is awaiting her school leaving results told me the same thing. As a matter of fact, this young lady has no idea of who the following people are: Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Mazi Alvan Ikoku, General Murtala Ramat Mohammed, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. To be fair and honest, she recognises their names from the Naira notes that she wields each day, but that is all. She has no idea of what Biafra really was, but at least knows that Emeka Ojukwu was involved in the Biafra story. What his role was, she had no idea.

In shock, I attempted to guide her mind towards contemporary Nigerian politics, and asked her who her state governor was. She replied, "Nnamdi Ohakim". At least she got the surname right. When pressed about who is predecessor was, her response, "Goodluck Jonathan!"

I did what I considered to be the humane thing and give her a crash course on our nation's history. What I found most frustrating was her almost absolute lack of interest in what I was saying!

What I find again most frustrating is the question of who or what to channel my anger at.

The young lady (whom I must point out is exceedingly respectful) is a stunning example of the rot in our country. And nowhere is this rot exemplified more than in our educational system.

The importance of History as a course can NEVER be understated, and in the opinion of this writer, it should be made compulsory through primary, secondary and at least the first year of tertiary education.

It is knowledge of what our forebears did, especially with an emphasis on what they got right, that could well and truly give us a sense of national pride.

So just who was Herbert Macaulay?

Let them succeed first. Then we talk. GTG now

PAGAN 9JA:
PLEASE AGAIN YOU ARE ACTING IGNORANT!

I AM TALKING ABOUT THE MNLA HERE, THE TRUE LIBERATORS OF AZAWAD! THEY ARE SECULAR TUAREGS and In their legal statement, MNLA uses the name State of Azawad. NOT ISLAMIC REPUBLIC.

that is ANSAR DINE, the islamic millitant rebel group. MNLA is backed by the African council. Ansar Dine is backed by al-qaeda/boko haram. MNLA are enemies of Ansar DIne. Nigerian troops are fighting against Ansar DIne.

I hope MNLA suceeds.

Hahaha...lol! Mansa Musa was more influential than Dangote will ever be....lol! That's very funny. How many African countries felt the impact of Mansa Kankan Musa when he was alive apart from his ostentatious display of wealth in his Mali and Ghana kingdoms? You make me laugh o, because you talk as if you don't know how many African nations Dangote has direct economic influence. And again, Dangote is still alive, he has a lot more ahead of him than a dead African king.

By the way, why are you now glorifying a king who was also got much of his influence via Islamic route, or were you not shouting Black consciousness yesterday crucifying Fulanis for promoting 'Arabian' culture, and here you are today glorifying a man whose major claim to fame was travelling to Mecca with over 70,000 men carrying gold bars? Come on, where is your black consciousness na?

Yeah, Timbuktu remains a World Heritage Site and I am not doubting that but many Northerners will rather pay a tribute to Sakwatto than risk their lives to Timbuktu, which is now unfortunately being turned to a ghost city.

No footballer needs to tie the lace of another. Didier Drogba is a legend but he still bows to a Fulani man, Issa Hayatou. This 'diatribe' is a very interesting one, no doubt. We can go on and on. But I will have to leave you now. Got more writing to do. I guess we hook up some other time. And did I just see Luos of Kenya? God! You are funny! Catch ya leira

shymexx: Don't change the topic. The topic is about the most influential. Mansa Musa was more influential than Dangote will ever be. His name will forever be ingrained in the annals of history as the richest ever to walk this planet. Malian empire might be in ruins, but millions of tourists still go over there year in, year out, to witness its blessings to humanity. There's no city as famous as Timbuktu in sub-saharan Africa!!! That's the city of legends!! How many tourists visit the Sokoto caliphate? - that shows how inconsequential the place is.

All the footballers on that list combined can't lace Didier Drogba's boots!!!

Can the Fulani produce a Sekou Toure?

Don't shoot yourself in the foot na. No tribe in West Africa has produced more heads of state than the Fulanis. Go read again. Mansa Musa is dead and we know his worth. Dangote is alive and his possibilities are endless. He can very well be the richest man in the world (actually, he believes he will be). Well, not a few believed he would be the world's richest black so no qualms. The Sokoto Caliphate built by the Fulanis endures till date, all we have of the ancient Mali Empire are ruins now desecrated by Islamist rebels. Abi no be so? As for footballers, I refer you back to the list.

shymexx: The mandika have produced 10 presidents in five West African countries, can the Fulani's ever match that?

Will dangote ever be as rich as Mansa Musa?

Can the Fulani's ever build an empire as great as the Malian empire?

Can the Fulani's boast of any footballer as good as the trio of: Didier Drogba(Chelsea FC), Saidu Keita(Barcelona and Sevilla), and Yaya Toura(Barcelona and Man City)?

Let's do a pound for pound comparison.

Hahahhaahaha.....lol! You are funny! Now you want to shift to Mende people...lol! I understand, your Mandinka didn't work shey? Bring on your Mende list and let's see, or is it not this one? >>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mende_people

shymexx: That list can't even compete with the Mende people.

You don't have any proof - just stop it.

And that's just a tribe in West Africa. You don't want me going to East and Southern Africa.

Even most tribes in Nigeria can boast of a bigger list than that.

I've already responded

shymexx: When you have checked the list for Mandika people, come back with your argument.

- Mansa Musa.
- Current president of Ivory coast.
- Current president of Guinea, current PM of Guinea, and also ex PM of Guinea.
- Former president of Sierra Leone.
- Isha Sesay.
- Sekou Toure.
- Didier Drogba, Saidu Keita and Yaya Toure.
- First president of Gambia.
- Founder of the Malian empire.
- Current PM of MAli and three ex presidents of the same country.


The list is endless.

And just to remind you in case you missed it, the list contains ELEVEN heads of state in different countries, including two current Presidents (Mali and Senegal), and not just to intimidate you, I did not even count the former and serving Fula prime ministers.

And here is a longer and more impressive list>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fula_people

shymexx: Go check the mandika tribe: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandinka_people

The spambot keeps banning me for posting it because the list is endless.

Brilliant! In your own view, Mandes are more influential while I go for Fulanis because they are of sufficient interest to me and I have given what I think are sufficient points based on my conviction (I don't have time either but my belief in this assertion is strong enough to make me carve out some time out of no time). We have diverging views but that should not cause gobe na. And one more thing, no matter the ethnic group you choose to be most influential, I really don't expect everyone to view it with a neutral eye. Either you say it is Mande o, Hausa o, Zulus or Edos o, there will always be those with different views. We are talking of tribes here and people have affiliations so no lele. All tribes cannot be the most influential

And just for reference, you can see a similar drama playing out itself here when the question of the most influential Nigerian monarch was raised, so the varied reactions are normal and expected. See here >>>>https://www.nairaland.com/657732/nigeria-most-influential-monarch

PhysicsQED: I don't really have the time to do something like that nor do I have sufficient interest in the issue to do so, but I will say that I think that even in the region of West Africa that Fulanis are from there is a more influential group - the Mande. I personally think Mande-speaking people are more influential overall, especially when past history and influence outside of Africa is taken into account. If someone took the time to assemble a list of prominent Mande-speaking people from the past and present, it would definitely be better than that list in the opening post. But like I said, the issue isn't interesting enough to me personally to warrant that kind of effort.

Thank you!

PhysicsQED: Thanks, I missed that. It's a nice article.

Let me make one thing clear: You stick to your historical antecedents, I am much more concerned about recent events and that explained my listing out mainly Fulani individuals still very much alive and influencing affairs. As of today, Fulanis remain the most influential single ethnolinguistic group in various spheres in Africa. Many of those you mentioned made waves in the past and cannot be regarded as influential on a continental scale. If the article is not enough proof for you as to how influential they are, feel free to read up. Or better still, write a rejoinder on any of those you believe to be the most influential. Then and only then, I'd start taking you serious Thanks.

ShyM-X:
You keep posting ridiculous posts about how influential Fulani's are, however you haven't provided any proof to back-up your assertion. Provide proofs, or stick to what you know.

I ask again: what did the Fulani's contribute to African history to make them influential?

That's the problem with the Nigerian educational system and lack of proper education about African history. Most of you just read a bunch of crap and start posting ridiculous information all over the web. The sphere of influence of the Fulani doesn't go beyond NW and parts of NE Nigeria. Heck, they don't even have a proper culture apart what they stole from the Hausa and Arabs.

Btw, do they even teach you lot African history in Nigeria?

Thank you o, that is what I am looking forward to seeing, a similar list of any other ethnic group and I will withdraw my assertion.

PhysicsQED: Yes the Fulanis have had some influence in the western part of the continent (some of it 'good', some of it 'bad' in some people's view), but they have had little to no real/significant influence outside of that area, and the thread title seems like an exaggeration. Also, a list that is just as impressive (or more impressive) of prominent people like the list in the opening post could be assembled for pretty much any other African linguistic group with a large population (in the tens of millions) if any one bothered to take the time to do so.

I can't put all the details here, it says post too long. Please check the link.

PhysicsQED: Nice thread, but I did expect more details and information, like we see in most of your other posts.

But Sir, you will agree with me that Dangote, a Fulani, exerts the greatest individual influence on the Nigerian economy which is virtually under his grips, and he is steadily expanding to take over the continent even with the preponderance of Hausa, Ibo and Yoruba on the same continent. However, that is not to underestimate the contributions of other economic giants like Mike Adenuga and the rest.

Afam4eva: I think the OP meant Political influence and not general influence. Apart from politics, i don't see Fulani influence anywhere. The can't match the trio of Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba. They may even have to compete with some smaller tribes.

I agree with you that the influence of the Tuaregs cannot be underestimated. However, apart from the fact that the Islamic Republic of Azawad (they are trying to use the same jihadist principle of expansion some readers are accusing the Fulanis of) is an unrecognized state (even Nigerian troops are there slugging it out with them), the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad have already renounced their claims for independence. But at any rate, the conflict is still on, MNLA is already negotiating with the Malian government, let's see how it all ends.

PAGAN 9JA:
please do not understimate the Tuareg just because they are light skinned. THE TUAREG ACHIEVED BY FAR THE MOST! NO OTHER TRIBE IN AFRICA HAS RECENTLY SUCCESSFULLY MANAGED TO CARVE OUT THEIR OWN NATION BASED ON ETHNICITY, i.e., THE REPUBLIC OF AZAWAD .

The Tuareg have fought the most to preserve their identity and way of life in 2 successive Rebellions against both, the Libyan Govt and the Malian GOvt. they have sacrificed a lot to uphold the dignity of their tribe and culture.

Maybe it's a general assumption although there are very black Fulanis too.

tpia@:
why do people always like pinning the light skin tag on fulanis?

Well, I am not surprised with the response of some readers, they will find it a bitter pill to swallow but it has to be stated very clearly that in Africa, I am yet to see any tribe or ethnic group more influential than the Fulanis. For some reasons, some people just dislike the Fulanis, and want to neglect their exploits but the impact of Fulanis on West African history cannot be underestimated or overlooked. Their impact is everywhere, whether people accept it or not.

Bororojo: When discussing Fulanis, please do not limit your thoughts to within Nigeria, Thanks.
And even within Nigeria, Are you aware that the Fulanis shaped up the boundries of Modern day Nigeria, & the boundries between North and South?
The Fulbe are the single greatest force in the Shaping up of Northern Nigerian history.
And as for language,- to the other guy talking about language- there is no OFFICIAL local language in Nigeria

Fulfulde is a National language of 9ja, Just like Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo. Igbo or hausa or Yoruba are't of a higher status.... So what is your poont??

Hausas are not Fulanis and Fulanis are not Hausas, I thought I stated that.

tpia@:
madam, the people you are calling fulani, are hausa fulani.

if you are referring to nigeria, that's the context you should use.

if your area of expertise is outside nigeria, then you should also mention that as your specialty (perhaps you're from elsewhere?), since there's a reason why different regions are different countries?

Sorry, I cannot spend more than five minutes of my time on you. Obviously, you have a lot of time at hand. You can continue. Goodluck with your ranting.

kwangi: Wetin this one they talk?
Go hang your miserable self biko!
What you sow is what you reap!
You dish out something so disrespectful and you dey find respect.
Next time be sure of what you put out there.
Stop barking.

No be talk am o! Thanks for your time

berem: He had Battalion of children too? our past heroes too sabi play away match. Oh lawdy lawd!

Nice thread Iyaniwura.

I can't put all the details here, it says post too long. For more details, the link has been provided.

ninja4life: Nice thread but not much details

Respect yourself. Let this be the first and the last time EVER in your entire life you'd utter such nonsense to me. Did I beg you to click the link? Respect yourself o, Kwangi kinto ko e ni igi lori. Can you just imagine such senseless questions!I am not here to trade insults but je ki ori e ko pe gidigidi! If you do not agree with the title, write your piece and do not mouth insults at me, okay?

kwangi: Op you messed up in more ways than one!
The reason I clicked the thread was because of the impossible title!
Most influential?
You don dey mad?
Influence? how? Where? When?
And we are supposed to be talking of Africa!
The cradle of mankind!
The cradle of human civilisation!

HERBERT MACAULAY, Nigeria's Father of Nationalism

OUTLINE
BIRTH AND EARLY DAYS
EDUCATION AND EARLY CAREER
LOVE, ROMANCE AND MARRIAGE
FAMILY
NATIONALIST STRUGGLE
PERSONAL STYLE
A MUSICIAN?
DEATH
LEGACY & REMEMBRANCE

Looking at him on the one naira coin, HERBERT SAMUEL HEELAS MACAULAY kinda looks like a white man to me. Or let me say his moustache and names kind of sound foreign to me. As a youngster, I always wondered why someone with such a 'strange and unNigerian' name will be glorified as a Nigerian hero. Well, now I know berra...lol! Did you know that Herbert Macaulay could have actually been Nigeria's first President, instead of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe? Did I hear you say how? Did you know he was also a musician? Do you want to know Herbert Macaulay's last words on earth? His marital life? Read on...

Forget his unmistakable moustache, Herbert Macaulay was a man of towering intelligence. In Nigeria of today where many men struggle to keep and cope with one job, Herbert Macaulay was a clerk, civil engineer, architect, surveyor, land inspector, journalist, musician, nationalist and politician.

BIRTH AND EARLY DAYS

This Nigerian legend was born on the 14th of November, 1864 in Lagos State. His parents, who married in 1845, were Sierra Leonean Creoles (called Saros) and he himself was a grandson of the famed Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther, the first African bishop of the Anglican Church and linguist. Crowther would later die after suffering a stroke on the last day of 1891. Herbert Macaulay was to become recipient of the gold pen presented to his grandfather, Bishop Crowther by Queen Victoria of England at the Windsor Castle in 1851.

Then, Herbert was just about 27 years of age. His family was a prominent one and his father, Reverend Thomas Babington Macaulay, an early missionary and priest of the Church of England established the Church Missionary Society (CMS) Grammar School, Lagos, Nigeria's first secondary school in 1859.

He became the school's first principal, a mighty achievement in those days and was also a very close friend of Sir John Glover while he was the Administrator of Lagos. Herbert's mother was named Abigail Crowther, a brilliant trader, businesswoman and the second daughter of Bishop Ajayi Crowther. Macaulay's father would later die on the 17th of January, 1878 during a smallpox epidemic.

EDUCATION AND EARLY CAREER

Herbert Macaulay attended primary school in Lagos and his secondary education was also at CMS Grammar School, Lagos, then took up work as a clerk at the Lagos Public Works Department in 1881 after high school. Thereafter proceeded to Plymouth, England where he studied civil engineering (1891-1894) and became a member of many intellectual societies and circles upon graduation (he was an Associate Member, Institute of British Architects). He went to the United Kingdom in 1890 on a government scholarship and when he returned, he worked briefly as a Surveyor of Crown Lands (government surveyor) before deciding to go for independent practise as an engineer, architect and surveyor. He resigned in 1898.

LOVE, ROMANCE AND MARRIAGE
The year Macaulay left civil service, he got romantically entangled with Caroline Pratt, who happened to be the daughter of an African Police Superintendent. They later got married but the union came to an end in August 1899 following Caroline's sudden death. They had no kids from the marriage. Even after her death, he maintained good relations with the Pratt family and saw to their welfare. A devastated Herbert later married Maria Pase but some records indicated that he also kept a string of mistresses who bore him a battalion of children. Caring for the kids sapped his pockets but he had no option.

Herbert was the fifth child (out of seven) of his parents and his siblings included Owen Emeric Macaulay (died in July 1909, was Abigail's eldest son), Thomas Fowell Buxton Macaulay (second child, died in September 1928) while the third sibling was Hugh Stowell Macaulay.

FAMILY
One of his sons, Ogedengbe Macaulay also took after him with his own militant brand of politics. Ogedengbe was a Zikist and at a time in 1948, with the NCNC becoming weaker, he and some other Zikists decided to take some pro-active steps. On an occasion, he said 'If we tell the Governor to come down, he will not; we must drag him down and take over.' Some of his other children include:

-HERBERT K. MACAULAY
-FRANK MONTAGUE MACAULAY (died)
-MISS FLORENCE AUGUSTA MACAULAY (eldest daughter, died)

NATIONALIST STRUGGLE

STILL INTERESTED? READ THE REST AND SEE ALL PICTURES HERE: http://.com/herbert-macaulay-nigerias-father-of-nationalism/

Thanks for pointing that out

Revolva: na wa oo this poster sef...delta state ..now bendel state ..or the other way round..

Okay, Shymexx, okay....lol! I get your points and I will also try to do some fleshing up. I want my rating with you to increase! I will dig into other tribes (I am particularly interested in Benin's President, if Boni Yayi is Yoruba, that'd be amazing, and yes, you are right, Olaudah Equaino deserves a great mention). I guess you have given me another assignment o....lol! You are clearly very passionate about Afrika, same here

shymexx: I'm back again lool.

Err... Even in Nigeria, the three major languages are: Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo - the Fulbe language isn't even listed among the official languages. So their influence in Nigeria is non-existent. Also, most of the Southern ethnic groups have produced more prominent people than the Fulani's. And if you want to argue about influence outside Nigeria - Igbo's can boast of a certain Olaudah Equaino, prominent people of Igbo ancestry in Sierra Leone, Barbados, Jamaica etc., and the influence of their language in the new world. Yoruba's can also boast of producing a few of Benin's presidents(including the current one), influence in Togo and Ghana, prominent people of Yoruba ancestry in Sierra Leone, and its influence all over South America and the Caribbean. So their influence is also debatable in Nigeria because this is a tribe with a recessive(and almost extinct) culture that doesn't even speak its own language.

Africa is just too big and too diverse for any tribe to be the most influential. And the continent is as old as humanity itself. However, a lot of tribes contributed to its rich history. We can talk about the contributions of the Nile valley civilisations; to the City of Legends(Timbuktu) and its higher science/scholastic-knowledge; the architectural masterpiece of Great Zimbabwe; mystic Nok arts; the great Kingdoms in present day Somalia; Igbo-ukwu arts; the modernity of Nubia; the greatness of Aksum; the bravery of Dahomey Amazon warriors; the beauty of Oyo's terracotta and Ife's brass carving; the richness of Bini culture and it's wonderful bronze heads; the exuberance of Akan's and gold; the great Queen Nzingha of Kongo etc..

Till you provide anything substantial that the Fulani's added to African history; the ratings I had for you before this would definitely stay at the new low that it's.

I love Africa too much to allow anyone destroy and disrespect the continent of great legends/mighty. Mama Africa.

Yes Sir!

Michael Sokoto: OP pls we need Wizkid!

Brilliant suggestion Sir/Ma, there are plans to do just that. Thank you very much.

azpekuliar: Nice memories from the early '90s. Wonder where she is now. OP do a feature too on the following, The Mandators, Peterside Otong, Ras Kimono, Alex O, Orits Wiliki etc..

Thanks for your eagle eyes, you spotted it! It has been corrected. Thanks plenty plenty

babaglo79: correction. isoko nation is in then bendel state but now in delta state.

Corrected already.

sexiestharam: Isoko in edo state? You've got to be kidding me. The isoko people are mostly from Delta state, and few from Bayelsa state. I stand to be corrected.

Thank you very much, it has been corrected. I am very grateful

30card: EARLY DAYS
Evi-Edna Ogholi was born on the 6th of July 1965
in Isoko, Edo State (now Bendel State) to the
household of Reverend R. O. Ogholi.

She is from DELTA STATE (formerly under BENDEL STATE

God bless you! Thanks for correcting! #Appreciated.

babaglo79: correction. isoko nation is in then bendel state but now in delta state.

Seems like we grew up in the same area! I dey feel you!

AMvanquish: @ Op! Nice one! It sure does bring back memories! With those massive tape cassette players dat would rock the whole neighborhood back den. Dress to kill with sweet Punk hair cuts. Cameras that are big like telescope and the flash can blind you! When PHCN was steady witouth issues. Back when Naija dint hv so many issues! Sweet memories