Mbororo

Mbororo, also spelled Bororo, is a Fulani sub-group traditionally associated with cattle pastoralism across parts of West and Central Africa. The term is used in Cameroon and neighboring countries to refer to a transhumant Fulani group that speaks a dialect of Fulfulde known as Mbororo-Fulfulde. While related to other Fulani communities, the Mbororo are distinguished by their itinerant grazing practices and extensive herd holdings.

They are primarily found in Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Nigeria and the Central African Republic, with smaller populations in neighboring states. Their economy centers on cattle herding, though some communities engage in farming and trading. Cattle wealth determines social status, marriage arrangements, and political influence within camps and among lineages. Traditional leadership is provided by elder men and clan elders, within a broader Fulani customary governance framework. The Mbororo are predominantly Muslim, but local practices and syncretic beliefs remain in many communities.

Historically, the Mbororo emerged as a major Fulani pastoralist subgroup during the Fulani expansion in the Sahel and inland beyond the 18th and 19th centuries. In the modern era, borders, land rights, and national policies on grazing have shaped their mobility. Across countries, disputes over grazing areas, crop farming encroachment, and security concerns have affected nomadic routes and settlement patterns. Despite pressures, many Mbororo continue a semi-nomadic or transhumant lifestyle, adapting to climate change and market demands.