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Doing some reserach, I strumbled over this and perceived how many Fula jihadist states came to being in the XVIII and XIX centuries. My question is if is possible for a Pan-Westafrican Fula Empire to emerge, going at least from Timbuktu down to Calabar. The POD is before the OTL Berlin Conference (1884). Would this state be able to make the Fulani the lingua fraca of West Africa? Would it be able to modernize or would it be consequently divided and conquered by the European powers?

Having 100% of the West is not mandatory - I can see an independet Liberia or some "free" coastal cities -, but keeping at least 60% of it is.

My opinion: I guess it wouldn't simply for the lack of infrastructure in the region due the geoclimatic conditions, and subsequent European imperialism. But I'm not a specialist in Africa and that's why I'm asking the fellow members of this community for their insight. Personally, I would find the possibility of a Westafrican Fula Empire - even if very small - amazing.
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