ADVENTURES OF MUDDIE: THE FULANI CHRONICLES 2

Who would have thought the Fulani people inspire some of the latest fashion trends, the world over…but my encounter with these three amazing Fulani brothers during my tour of a Fulani settlement in Abuja, changed my perception!

Ladies & Gents, meet Wailare, Usman & Sulaiman!

Wailare: Now welcome to the real shoot for Darey’s “Ba ni kidi” music video but first, Muddie...put your money in the bowl!

Usman: Hahahaha…he's not smiling because he thinks we are going to beg for alms.

Wailare:  Now ease up Muddie, we only brought you some fura da nono!

Sulaiman: [laughing]  Mai ya kawo shi nan?(what brings him here?)

Usman: It seems he has come to take pictures of our village...See, he has a camera.

Wailare:  With a camera in hand, I’m thinking he's here because the rest of the world needs some fashion upgrade and he knows there's only one place to get the very best...here!

Usman:  Dan uwa, that makes perfect sense. First they criticize us for not being civilized and then they copy our fashion styles. I always knew we rocked.

Wailare: I hear so many people in the township now spot the Fulani inspired mohawk hairstyle, especially celebrities.

Sulaiman: So true, that inyamuri (igbo) rapper, Phyno presently spots one.

  

Usman: Well, the mohawk is already going out of fashion but I’m sure the world would love my hairstyle. The low cut is not totally new to them, but there's a new angle to it, the patch in the middle. It’s the real deal…so hurry, take a picture before I change my mind.

[General laughter]

Sulaiman: What about our clothes? Aren’t you people getting tired of skinny jeans?

Wailare: Hahahaha…I laugh in igbo! Baba (father) said back then, people would laugh at his trousers because they were too skinny and looked funny!

Usman: Hmmm, I mean who looks funny, a Fulani man in skinny trouser or Rick Ross in a skinny jean?

[laughter again...]

Sulaiman: Fashion designers across the world have embraced Ankara and I’m sure they need something new. I will not be surprised if tomorrow, i see Olisa Adibua or Dan Foster (those radio presenters) spot these same tops we are putting on.

Wailare: Considering their body frame, this would be a perfect fit.

Usman: Something tells me they already wear similar outfits. Uncle Abdul also told me a story of how his trader friends in the city often laughed at him back then because he always wore rubber shoes.

  

Wailare: Quite funny because today, all the fashionistas now wear funny coloured rubber shoes, you would think they are wearing colour wheels.

Sulaiman: The Fulani people might be seen by the rest of world as fourth world living in a third world country but we are one step ahead in fashion and always set trends.  We will continue to grace the pages of FAB magazine because  we are Fab. African & Black.

Wailare, Usman & Sulaiman: We are Fulani & we are proud!