Kirdi

Ana Monteiro-Ferreira

The Kirdi or Kapsiki people are cattle keepers in the Mandara Hills along the Nigerian border in the area of Margui-Wandala, between Mokolo and Bourrah, a fairly uneven plateau where apparently few herds of humpless cattle still exist on the Nigerian side of the border with Chad and Cameroon. The people cross the three borders, but share similar culture. Kirdi is a general term used by the Fulani for non-Moslem peoples among whom the Kapsiki people can be found, with the two terms generally overlapping. They are traditionally cattle owners, and cattle play an important role in their customs and ceremonies. This entry looks at their history, the role of cattle in their culture, and their religious beliefs and practices. The Kirdi fled to their present home during the 19th century after many battles with the Fulbe. They resisted Islam and Fulbe domination by moving their homeland to the isolated ...

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