Environment and Identity Politics in Colonial Africa: Fulani Migrations and Land Conflict

Abstract

This book examines the relationship between environment, identity, and land conflict in colonial Africa, focusing on the migration of Fulani pastoralists into the Bamenda Grasslands of the Southern Cameroons under British colonial rule. It explores how colonial policies encouraging cattle-based economies led to tensions between Fulani pastoralists and indigenous farming communities. Key issues include land ownership disputes, environmental degradation (such as overgrazing and deforestation), and perceptions of ethnic favoritism by colonial authorities. The study highlights how these dynamics contributed to identity formation and long-term socio-political conflicts, offering insights into the historical roots of contemporary land and ethnic tensions in Africa