Toucouleur
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The Toucouleurs (or Haalpulaaren) are an ethnicity of West Africa. They live primarily in the north of Senegal (where they represent 10% of the population) in the Senegal River valley, in Mauritania, in Mali, and in Guinea.
The Toucouleurs are the descendants of the Iron Age state of Takrur, and their French name "Toucouleur" is a corruption of this name.
The Toucouleurs speak the Fouta-Toro dialect of Pulaar. They call themselves Haapulaaren, which means "those who speak Pulaar". They are Muslims and differ from other Fulas only by the sedentary nature of their society.
Toucouleur society is patriarchal and divided into strict hierarchies, with 12 castes subdivided into 3 classes. The highest caste, the Toorobbê, is made up of religious leaders and marabouts.
El Hadj Umar Tall founded a Toucouleur Empire in Mali in the nineteenth century.
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This article is based on a translation of the corresponding article from the French Wikipedia, accessed July 5, 2005.
