upon adama's death in 1847, his son muhammadu lawal became lamido of adamawa. the empire was not to last, however, as colonial battles and division eventually destroyed the independent fulani state. the conquest had long-term repercussions, however. the fulani became the dominant ethnic group in the region, and islam the major religion. the herdsmen altered the land to be more suitable for herding cattle, their primary pursuit. the jihad also pushed those peoples who had lived on the adamawa plateau south into the forest, the single most important event in the populating of southern cameroon.