Dyula people
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The Dyula or Dioula are a Mande ethnic group, widespread in West Africa, whose traditions of long-distance trade and traditional abhorrence of war caused them to play a notable part in the peaceful expansion of Islam across much of the area. Trading in gold and kola nuts between the forest belt and the Sahara, large portions of the Dyula converted to Islam to strengthen ties with Saharan merchants. Many settled in decentralized societies and developed theological principles for living with non-Muslims.
The tuntigi, or warrior class, and karamogo, or scholar class, are two classes within Dyula society.
Al-Hajj Salim-Suwari and Samori were notable Dyulas.
Dyula speak the Dioula language or Julakan, one of the closely interrelated Manding languages of West Africa. It is particularly close to the Bambara language.
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