<p></p>
<div>
<p>For generations, many <strong>Fulanis</strong> across northern Nigeria have refrained from eating goat meat.</p>
<p>This long-standing practice is reportedly rooted in cultural beliefs, historical traditions, and perceived health concerns.</p>
<p>Despite the widespread consumption of <strong>goat meat</strong> in Nigeria, Fulani communities in states such as Sokoto, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, and Gombe continue to avoid it, passing down the belief from one generation to another.</p>
<p>The reasons behind this avoidance vary. Some Fulani elders claim the tradition dates back to the time of Usmanu Danfodiyo, the revered Islamic scholar and leader of the 19th-century Sokoto Caliphate.</p>
<p>According to oral accounts, Danfodiyo and his followers refrained from eating goat meat, a practice that many of their descendants have continued.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<p>Others argue that the Fulani perceive goats as unclean animals, often associating them with scavenging habits.</p>
<p>Unlike cows and sheep—animals that Fulani herders traditionally rear—goats are seen as indiscriminate feeders, making them less desirable as food.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<p>A resident of Kano, Malam Abdullahi, explained;</p>
<p>“<em>Our elders warned us that goat meat can cause diseases like leprosy and asthma. We grew up with this belief, and I cannot bring myself to eat it.” </em></p>
<p>Similarly, Musa Muhammad, another resident, stated, “<em>Goats eat anything, including dirty things. That is why many Fulani believe their meat is not good for consumption.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></em></p>
<p>Some Fulani believe that consuming goat meat can cause certain ailments, leading to widespread avoidance of the meat.</p>
<p>However, medical experts have debunked these claims, stating that goat meat is a nutritious source of protein, rich in essential vitamins and minerals.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<p>Despite this, the belief remains strong among many Fulani communities.</p>
<p>A butcher in Bauchi, Umar Garba, remarked, “<em>Even if you serve it unknowingly, a Fulani person will recognize it by its taste and refuse to eat it.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></em></p>
<p>While some younger Fulanis are beginning to question this tradition, many still uphold it out of respect for their elders and cultural heritage.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<p><!-- CONTENT END 1 --></p></div>
<p><a href="https://www.gistreel.com/why-we-dont-eat-goat-meat-fulani/" previewlistener="true">Source link </a></p>

