Hausa–Fulani is a term used to refer collectively to the Hausa and Fulani people of West Africa. The two are grouped together because since the Fulani War their histories have been largely intertwined within Nigeria. For example, when the Fulani took over the Hausa city-state of Kano during the expansion of the Sokoto Caliphate, the new emirs ended up speaking the Hausa language instead of Fulfulde over the years. However, a significant portion of Fulani society are opposed to the use of this term, which has been made popular most especially in recent times by its increased use in mass media.
The Hausa and Fulani together account for about 29% of Nigeria's population according to the CIA World Factbook. Nigeria's other major ethnic groupings are the Yoruba and Igbo.