List of mais of Kanem–Bornu

The mai (sometimes translated as king or emperor) was the monarch of the Kanem–Bornu Empire from its foundation c. 700 until the mais were replaced as rulers by the shehus in the mid-19th century.

The line of mais is largely reconstructed through the girgam, the empire's royal chronicle. The girgam was preserved through oral tradition before transcriptions by European scholars in the mid-19th century. The girgam is not entirely reliable since it was preserved orally and contains some contradictions between different versions. There is however a large degree of agreement across different versions of the girgam as to the names of rulers and the lengths of their reigns. Because the slightly different versions of the girgam and a lack of precise dates, names and lengths of reign assigned to the mais may differ in different sources. For the sake of comparison, this list includes dates from different authors for each ruler.

The Kanem–Bornu Empire used patrilineal succession but there were at least two female rulers of the empire (the regent Fasama and magira Aissa Koli), possibly three (mai Hu).

Duguwa dynasty (c. 700–1085)

The Duguwa dynasty, also referred to as the Dougouwa or Dukuwa, were the original line of mais. The Duguwa were an aristocratic group that chose a mai from among themselves. They were probably of local Kanembu origin; later legend claimed that they were descendants of Arabian migrants who had intermarried with the locals around Lake Chad, probably reflecting a desire (after the conversion to Islam) to connect Kanem's history to that of the wider Islamic world. The date of the empire's establishment (and thus also that of the Duguwa dynasty) is not certain, but is typically placed c. 700.

Islam reached Kanem in the mid-8th or 9th century. The Duguwa dynasty converted to Islam in the 11th century, under Hu, shortly before they were overthrown by the later Sayfawa dynasty. There is some variation in the names assigned to the Duguwa mais, and little historical evidence for any of them outside of the girgam. Some scholars, such as Ronald Cohen, treat the entire dynasty as legendary, with little evidence that any of the mais have "any real historical validity".

No.	Name	Urvoy (1949)	Reign (Stewart, 1989)	Relation	Notes
1	Susam	692–725	Omitted	–	Traditionally the first ruler of Kanem.
2	Jashar	725–783	Omitted	Son of Susam
3	Dugu	784–835	784–835	Son of Jashar
4	Fune	835–893	835–893	Son of Dugu
5	Aritse	893–942	893–942	Son of Fune
6	Katuri	942–961	942–961	Son of Aritse
7	Boyoma	961–1009	961–1019	Son of Katuri
8	Bulu	1009–1034	1019–1035	Son of Boyoma
9	Arku	1035–1067	1035–1077	Son of Bulu
10	Hu	1067–1081	1077–1081	Son/daughter of Arku	First Muslim ruler of Kanem. Possibly a woman.
11	Abd al-Jalil I	1081–1097	1081–1085	Son of Hu

Sayfawa dynasty (1085–1846)

The Sayfawa dynasty, also referred to as the Sefouwa, Sefawa, or Sefuwa, was the second line of mais, established by Hummay in the 11th century. The Sayfawa were of Kanembu origin but claimed descent from a Yemeni noble named Saif ibn Dhi Yazan; other Islamic African dynasties of this time sometimes made similar claims to Arab origin as a source of prestige.

The Sayfawa lost Kanem in the 14th century, ousted from the original capital of Njimi by the Bilala people. They were forced to relocate west to Bornu, a former tributary territory, which continued to be the seat of power even after Kanem was recovered in the 16th century, hence the name Kanem–Bornu. The Sayfawa dynasty's continuous rule from the 11th to 19th century lasted nearly 800 years, making it one of the longest-lasting ruling dynasties in history.

No.	Name	Reign (Stewart, 1989)	Reign (Bosworth, 2012)	Relation	Notes
12	Hummay	1085–1097	c. 1085–1097	Son of Abd al-Jalil I (?)	May have been the child of his predecessor but considered to have overthrown the Duguwa dynasty. Died in Egypt while on the Hajj.
13	Dunama I Umemi	1097–1150	1097–1151	Son of Hummay	Murdered in Egypt while on the Hajj.
14	Bir I Othman	1150–1176	1151–1174	Son of Dunama I Umemi	Initially under the regency of his mother Fasama.
15	Abdullah I Bikur	1176–1194	1174–1194	Son of Bir I Othman
16	Abd al-Jalil II	1194–1221	1194–1221	Son of Abdullah I Bikur
17	Dunama II Dabbalemi	1221–1259	1221–1259	Son of Abd al-Jalil II	Reign known for increased Islamisation of the empire and suppression of pagan cults. Brought Kanem to the height of its power, commanding 40,000 horsemen and justifying conquests in the name of jihad. Flourishing trade with North Africa.
18	Kade I	1259–1260	?	Son of Dunama II Dabbalemi	Period of succession conflict between the sons of Dunama II Dabbalemi.
19	Kashim Bir	1260–1288	?	Son of Dunama II Dabbalemi
20	Bir II Ibrahim	1288–1307	Omitted	Son of Dunama II Dabbalemi
21	Jalil	Omitted	?	Son of Dunama II Dabbalemi
22	Dirke Kelem	Omitted	?	Son of Dunama II Dabbalemi
23	Ibrahim I Nikale	1307–1326	1290–1311	Son of Kashim Bir	Defeated an uprising by one of his own sons. Eventually murdered and thrown in the Wau River.
24	Abdullah II	1326–1346	1311–1322	Son of Kade I	A just ruler, who defeated the murderers and rivals of Ibrahim I.
25	Selema	1346–1350	1322–1326	Son of Abdullah II	A prolonged conflict with the Sao, southwest of Lake Chad, began under Selema. The wars claimed the lives of Selema and three of his brothers, who all reigned in quick succession.
26	Kuri I Gana	1350–1351	1326–1327	Son of Abdullah II
27	Kuri II Kura	1351–1352	1327–1328	Son of Abdullah II
28	Muhammad I	1352–1353	1328–1329	Son of Abdullah II
29	Idris I	1353–1377	1329–1353	Son of Ibrahim I Nikale
30	Dawud	1377–1386	1353–1363	Son of Ibrahim I Nikale	Beginning of intense phase of conflict with the Bilala in the east.
31	Othman I	1386–1391	1363–1366	Son of Dawud	Period of succession conflict between the sons of Idris I and Dawud and war with the Bilala. The Bilala invaded the core territory of the empire and the wars claimed the lives of three mais, who ruled in quick succession.
32	Othman II	1391–1392	1366–1368	Son of Idris I
33	Abubakar Liyatu	1392–1394	1368–1369	Son of Dawud
34	Dunama III	Omitted	1369–1376	Grandson of Dawud
35	Omar I	1394–1398	1376–1387	Son of Idris I	Lost Kanem to the Bilala and re-centered the empire in Bornu, a former tributary territory west of Lake Chad.
36	Saʽid	1398–1399	1387–1388	Son of Idris I (?)	Century-long chaotic period of civil strife, conflict with the Bilala, and civil wars between different branches of the imperial family. The different conflicts claim the lives of many mais, who were rarely able to secure long reigns. The empire lacks a permanent capital in Bornu, with the court of the mai constantly moving from one site to another. Little information survives from this time.
37	Muhammad II	Omitted	1388–1389	Son of Idris I
38	Kade II Afunu	1399–1400	1389–1390	Son of Idris I
39	Bir III Othman	1400–1432	1390–1422	Son of Idris I
40	Othman III Kalinumuwa	1432–1433	1422–1423	Son of Dawud
41	Dunama IV	1433–1435	1423–1425	Son of Omar I
42	Abdullah III Dakumuni	1435–1442	1425–1433	Son of Omar I
43	Ibrahim II	1442–1450	1433–1440	Son of Othman
44	Kade III	1450–1451	1440–1444	Son of Othman
45	Bir IV	Omitted	1444–1445	Son of Dunama IV (?)
46	Dunama V Ahmad	1451–1455	1445–1449	Son of Bir III Othman
47	Muhammad III	1455–1456	1449–1450	?
48	Amarma	1456	1450–1451	Grandson of Othman
49	Muhammad IV	1456	1451–1456	Son of Kade III
50	Gaji	1456–1461	1456–1461	?
51	Othman IV	1461–1466	1461–1466	Son of Kade III
52	Omar II	1466–1467	1466–1467	Son of Abdullah III Dakumuni
53	Muhammad V	1467–1472	1467–1472	Son of Muhammad IV
54	Ali I Gaji	1472–1504	1470–1503	Son of Dunama V Ahmad	Stabilised the empire and founded Ngazargamu, the first substantial capital since the loss of Kanem.
55	Idris II Katagarmabe	1504–1526	1503–1525	Son of Ali I Gaji	Defeated the Bilala twice and restored imperial control over Kanem, though the Bilala were allowed to continue to govern the land as vassals. The imperial center remained in Bornu.
56	Muhammad VI Aminami	1526–1545	1525–1544	Son of Idris II Katagarmabe	Led several victorious military campaigns, one of the empire's most powerful rulers.
57	Ali II Zainami	1545–1546	1544–1546	Son of Idris II Katagarmabe
58	Dunama VI Muhammad	1546–1563	1546–1563	Son of Muhammad VI Aminami	Renewed conflict with the Bilala, though they were defeated and reduced to vassals again.
59	Abdullah IV	1563–1570	1563–1569	Son of Dunama VI Muhammad
60	Aissa Koli	1570–1580	Co-ruler with Idrīs III	Daughter of Ali II Zainami	Became ruler in the absence of obvious male heirs.
61	Idris III Alooma	1580–1603	1569–1603	Son of Ali II Zainami	Brought the empire to the height of its power, partly with the aid of Ottoman mercenaries, instructors, and weapons.
62	Muhammad VII Bukalmarami	1603–1617	1603–1618	Son of Idris III Alooma
63	Ibrahim III	1617–1625	1618–1625	Son of Idris III Alooma
64	Omar III	1625–1645	1625–1645	Son of Idris III Alooma
65	Ali III	1645–1685	1645–1684	Son of Omar III	Faced several famines and at least one rebellion. Defeated a combined Tuareg–Kwararafa invasion.
66	Idris IV	1685–1704	1684–1699	Son of Ali III
67	Dunama VII	1704–1723	1699–1726	Son of Ali III
68	Hamdan	1723–1737	1726–1731	Son of Dunama VII	Fought against the Mandara Kingdom, to the southwest of Bornu. A pious and indolent ruler.
69	Muhammad VIII Ergama	1737–1752	1731–1747	Son of Hamdan
70	Dunama VIII Gana	1752–1755	1747–1750	Son of Muhammad VIII Ergama (?)
71	Ali IV	1755–1793	1750–1791	Son of Hamdan	Waged unsuccessful wars against the Mandara Kingdom, contributing to the weakening of the Kanem–Bornu army.
72	Ahmad	1793–1808	1791–1808	Son of Ali IV	Faced the Fula jihads. Defeated in battle, whereafter the Kanem–Bornu heartland was threatened.
73	Dunama IX Lefiami (1st reign)	1808–1810	1808–1811	Son of Ahmad	Kanem–Bornu was saved from the Fula jihads with the aid of the scholar and military leader shehu Muhammad al-Amin al-Kanemi, who sidelined the mai.
74	Muhammad IX Ngileruma	1810–1814	1811–1814	Son of Ali IV	Made mai by courtiers displeased with al-Kanemi's great influence under Dunama.
73	Dunama IX Lefiami (2nd reign)	1814–1817	1814–1817	Son of Ahmad	Restored to the throne with al-Kanemi's aid. Killed after plotting against al-Kanemi.
75	Ibrahim IV	1817–1846	1817–1846	Son of Ahmad	Puppet mai under al-Kanemi and al-Kanemi's son Umar. Killed while attempting to take power in a civil war.
76	Ali V Minargema	1846	1846	Son of Ibrahim IV	Briefly succeeded his father but was also defeated and killed.

Family tree

Simplified family tree of the Duguwa and Sayfawa dynasties

Susam 692–725 Jashar 725–783 Dugu 784–835 Fune 835–893 Aritse 893–942 Katuri 942–961 Boyoma 961–1019 Bulu 1019–1035 Arku 1035–1077 Hu 1077–1081 Abd al-Jalil I 1081–1085 Hummay 1085–1097 Dunama I Umemi 1097–1151 Bir I Othman 1151–1174 Abdullah I Bikur 1174–1194 Abd al-Jalil II 1194–1221 Dunama II Dabbalemi 1221–1259 Kade I 1259–? Kashim Bir ?–? Bir II Ibrahim ?–? Jalil ?–? Dirke Kelem ?–1290 Abdullah II 1311–1322 Ibrahim I Nikale 1290–1311 Selema 1322–1326 Kuri I Gana 1326–1327 Kuri II Kura 1327–1328 Jalil 1328–1329 Idris I 1329–1353 Dawud 1353–1363 Othman II 1322–1326 Omar I 1376–1387 Saʽid 1387–1388 Muhammad II 1388–1389 Kade II Afunu 1389–1390 Bir III Othman 1390–1422 Othman I 1363–1366 Abubakar Liyatu 1368–1369 Othman III Kalinumuwa 1422–1423 Ibrahim Dunama IV 1423–1425 Abdullah III Dakumuni 1425–1433 Dunama V Ahmad 1445–1449 Muhammad III 1449–1450 Amarma 1450–1451 Ibrahim II 1433–1440 Kade III 1440–1444 Dunama III 1369–1376 Omar II 1466–1467 Ali I Gaji 1470–1503 Muhammad IV 1451–1456 Gaji 1456–1461 Othman IV 1461–1466 Bir IV 1444–1445 Idris II Katagarmabe 1503–1525 Muhammad V 1467–1472 Muhammad VI Aminami 1525–1544 Ali II Zainami 1544–1546 Dunama VI Muhammad 1546–1563 Aissa Koli 1570–1580 Idris III Alooma 1580–1603 Abdullah IV 1563–1570 Muhammad VII Bukalmarami 1603–1618 Ibrahim III 1618–1625 Omar III 1625–1645 Ali III 1645–1684 Idris IV 1684–1699 Dunama VII 1699–1726 Hamdan 1726–1731 Muhammad VIII Ergama 1731–1747 Ali IV 1750–1791 Dunama VIII Gana 1747–1750 Ahmad 1791–1808 Muhammad IX Ngileruma 1811–1814 Dunama IX Lefiami 1808–1811, 1814–1817 Ibrahim IV 1817–1846 Ali V Minargema 1846

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