KANEM-BORNO (8th – 19th century)
The Kanem–Bornu Empire existed in areas which are now part of Chad and Nigeria. It was known to the Arabian geographers as the Kanem Empire from the 8th century AD onward and lasted as the independent kingdom of Bornu (the Bornu Empire) until 1900.
The Kanem Empire (c. 700–1380) was located in the present countries of Chad, Nigeria and Libya. It was founded by the Kanuri tradition states Sayf b. Dhi Yazan which established dynastic rule over the nomadic Magumi around the 9th or 10th century, through divine kingship under the leadership of the Duguwa dynasty. Its capital was located in Njimi. The title given to the king of Kanem was Mai.
The local Kanembu (Dugua) speaking people (They speak the Kanembu language, which the Kanuri language is derived from, with many speaking Arabic as a second language).
After Duguwa dynasty, the Sayfawa or Sefououwa Dynasty who acquired the titleMai led the empire. For example, Mai Dunama Dibbalemi le the empire from 1221 to 1259.
NOTE:
Kanem-Bornu rose due to several factors, such as; Islam, Trans-Saharan trade and intermarriage between the leaders and the subject families. She fell because of civil wars, hunger and frequent attacks by Kwararafa during the 17th century and early
