Abstract

The Fulani and Hausa are two prominent ethnic groups in West Africa, each with distinct cultural and historical backgrounds. The aim of this study is to compare the cephalic index between two ethnic groups Hausa and Fulani in order to gain a better understanding of the diversity of cranial shapes and sizes. The participants were visited in their various homes and workshops by the principal investigator. A consent form was filled by each of the participants before their measurements were taken. The research instrumentation was carried out by measuring the Bi- Parietal and Occipitofrontal diameters by placing the flexible metal tape snugly around the head, above the ears and eyebrows from the most posterior aspect of the head to the most frontal aspect of the head and the protuberances of the parietal bones. All measurement was taken with the subject sitting on a chair, in a relaxed mood and the head in the anatomical position. Cephalic index was calculated as biparietal diameter/length of cranium X 100. The data was subjected to statistical analysis using a t-test The result suggest that there is a significant difference in the cranial morphology of the hausa and Fulani, with the hausa’s having longer head length and more rounded cranial shape compared to the fulani’s Conclusion: The study found significant differences in cranial morphology between the Hausa and Fulani ethnic groups in Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State, Nigeria. The Fulani ethnic group had significantly higher mean values for head length, head breadth, and cranial capacity compared to the Hausa ethnic group. These differences may have implications for healthcare delivery and resource allocation, as well as for our understanding of cranial morphology in relation to other areas of human biology and behavior.