Toucouleur people

Tukulor (also Tukulör, Tokolor, Toucouleur, Tekarir or Takarir ) is the name of a mainly resident in Senegal and Mauritania ethnic group with over 800,000 members. The Tukulor speak Pulaar, as well as the Fulani, also called Peul. Because the common language both be summarized as Halpulaaren.

The economic base of mainly southern Mauritania and northern Senegal based on the lower reaches of the Senegal River Tukulor is the cultivation of sorghum, which is supplemented with animal husbandry. However, large parts of the population earn their living today in urban centers, where they occupy key positions in the administration part. The Tukulor profess Islam.

The Tukulor probably represented the core population of at least founded in the early Middle Ages Empire Tekrur (also Takrur ), where they paused political dominance in the 11th and 12th centuries and which also probably derives its name.

That until the 14th century the south of Mauritania and Senegal east dominant, belonging in the 15th century to the Wolof States Tekrur drew its wealth from the market and was already Islamized in the 11th century. In the 19th century Tukulor won by Jihad under the ideological leadership of the torobe -called religious leaders in many parts of West Africa's political dominance. The most famous conqueror, Al - Hajj Omar from Fouta Toro, subjugated a vast area but after his death in 1864 by his successors could not be obtained. The Segu - Tukulor Empire extended over the present states of Mauritania, Senegal and Mali. With the onset of colonial rule, however, the Tukulor end of the 19th century lost the political hegemony in the region.