They are traditionally herders of cows, sheep and goats, and are fiercely possessive of their herds, defending them with their omnipresent knives. Commonly, farmers will turn over their cattle to Fulani herders, who tend them in exchange for food such as rice or millet. Malink are the most populous ethnic group in Guinea, and spread into Senegal, Mali and Cote d'Ivoire. Their languange is closely related to Bambara. The Malink Empire of the fourteeth century was a great period of Islamic learning in West Africa - a period which was noted by the historic growth of city of Timbouktou.
Moors are traditionally herders who travel from oasis to oasis in the western Sahara.
These wanderings taught them to be traders, especially of dates. Moors are now known throughout West Africa as successful merchants. This light-skinned race speaks Hassaniyya, a language descended from Arabic. Moors dominate the government of Mauritania, a nation which abolished slavery only in 1980. The Mossi are the predominant ethnic group of Burkina-Faso, centered in that country's capital of Ouagadougou.