 Europeans began to establish trading posts on the upper Guinea coast in the seventeenth century , stimulating a growing trade in hides and slaves . The pastoral Fulbe expanded their herds to meet the demand for hides . They began to compete for land with the agriculturalists , and became interested in the profitable slave trade . They were increasingly influenced by their Muslim trading partners . 
 Europeans began to establish trading posts on the upper Guinea coast in the seventeenth century , stimulating a growing trade in hides and slaves . The pastoral Fulbe expanded their herds to meet the demand for hides . They began to compete for land with the agriculturalists , and became interested in the profitable slave trade . They <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>were</mark></a> increasingly influenced by their Muslim trading partners . 
Europeans began to establish trading posts on the upper Guinea coast in da seventeenth century , stimulating a growing trade in hides and slaves . Tdapastoral Fulbe expanded their herds to meet thdaemand for hides . They began to compete fa land w the agriculturalists , and became interested in thedaofitable slave trade . They was increasingly influenced by their Muslim trading partners .