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The population history of the Sahara/Sahelian belt is understudied, despite previous work highlighting complex dynamics. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 The Sahelian Fulani, i.e., the largest nomadic pastoral population in the world, 8 represent an interesting case because they show a non-negligible proportion of an Eurasian genetic component, usually explained by recent admixture with northern Africans. 1,2,5,6,7,9,10,11,12 Nevertheless, their origins are largely unknown, although several hypotheses have been proposed, including a possible link to ancient peoples settled in the Sahara during its last humid phase (Green Sahara, 12,000–5,000 years before present [BP]). 13,14,15 To shed light about the Fulani ancient genetic roots, we produced 23 high-coverage (30×) whole genomes from Fulani individuals from 8 Sahelian countries, plus 17 samples from other African groups and 3 from Europeans as controls, for a total of 43 new whole genomes. These data have been compared with 814 published modern whole genomes 2,16,17,18 and with relevant published ancient sequences (> 1,800 samples). 19 These analyses showed some evidence that the non-sub-Saharan genetic ancestry component of the Fulani might have also been shaped by older events, 1,5,6 possibly tracing the Fulani origins to unsampled ancient Green Saharan population(s). The joint analysis of modern and ancient samples allowed us to shed light on the genetic ancestry composition of such ancient Saharans, suggesting a similarity with Late Neolithic Moroccans and possibly pointing to a link with the spread of cattle herding. We also identified two different Fulani clusters whose admixture pattern may be informative about the historical Fulani movements and their later involvement in the western African empires. • 43 new modern 30× genomes mostly from Africa, focusing on the Sahelian Fulani herders • Non-sub-Saharan ancestry component in Fulani similar to the Late Neolithic Moroccans • The last Green Sahara as a major event for the Fulani/Sahelian genetic composition • Two Fulani subgroups, with one experiencing higher admixture with neighboring peoples By performing high-coverage whole-genome sequencing of the Sahelian Fulani herders, D'Atanasio et al. confirm the presence of a non-negligible non-sub-Saharan ancestry component that is further analyzed in the frame of the available ancient DNA data, possibly tracing its origin back to the last Green Sahara 12,000–5,000 years ago. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines variation in family religious language policy in a Muslim community in West Africa. Taking an ethnographically grounded case study approach, I situate families' choices with regards to their children's religious (language) education within the larger linguistic, social, and cultural context, focusing on new influences on Islamic education and Arabic learning in the community and the wider region during a period of Islamic resurgence. I examine families' religious education choices with particular attention to what they mean for children's Arabic learning and what they say about families' orientations toward Arabic. This article is based on a language socialization study of seven young Fulbe children into three languages (Fulfulde, Arabic, and French) at home, Qur'anic school, and public school in northern Cameroon. Changes in the religious, linguistic, and educational landscape of the region are reflected in the variation within and among four focal families with respect to how they organized and envisioned their children's religious study and Arabic language learning. In presenting ethnographic research conducted at the intersection of religious language policy, language education policy, and family language policy, my goal is to further our understanding of how private choices are connected to forces in the public sphere, giving rise to changes in the ways faith, language, and learning are practiced and conceptualized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]