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Kanem–Bornu Empire

AfricaHeartland today: Chad and Nigeria

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Ruled by the Sayfawa dynasty from the lands around Lake Chad, Kanem first controlled the Saharan routes north to Fezzan, then moved west to Bornu. Under Idris Aluma it used musketeers trained by Turkish advisers. The Sayfawa line ended in 1846.

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Key events

  1. Mai Hummay of the Sayfawa dynasty takes the throne; one account says he converted to IslamDisputed

    The Library of Congress study says the Sayfawa king Humai converted toward the end of the 11th century. Wikipedia dates his reign to about 1085 to 1097 and calls it erroneous to treat him as the empire's first Muslim ruler, since the Duguwa and Sayfawa may be one lineage and the empire's conversion came over a longer span.

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  2. – Under Mai Dunama Dabbalemi Kanem's authority reaches Fezzan in the north and Kano in the westDisputed

    The Library of Congress study dates his reign to about 1221 to 1259, as does Wikipedia (approximately). Wikipedia says some accounts place the limits of his authority further, as far east as the Nile and as far west as the Niger.

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  3. – The Bulala force the Sayfawa mai out of Njimi, and the court moves west of Lake Chad to BornuDisputed

    The Library of Congress study and New World Encyclopedia say about 1396. Wikipedia dates the era of instability from about 1380 and says Kanem was lost in the 14th century after conflict with the Bilala (Bulala), when Mai Umar I Idrismi relocated to Bornu.

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  4. – Mai Idris Aluma restores Bornu's reach with fortified posts and musketeers trained by Turkish advisersDisputed

    The Library of Congress study gives about 1571 to 1603; Wikipedia gives approximately 1570 to 1603.

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  5. Fulani forces take and destroy Ngazargamu; Muhammad al-Kanemi rallies resistance and founds Kukawa in 1814

    The Library of Congress study says Fulani warriors conquered Ngazargamu in 1808; Wikipedia says they captured and destroyed it that year. New World Encyclopedia and Wikipedia place al-Kanemi's new capital at Kukawa in 1814.

  6. The Sayfawa dynasty ends after a civil war, and al-Kanemi's son Umar rules as shehu