Thread by @Joe__Bassey

The Rise And Fall Kanem-Bornu Empire.
By 1200 c.e. the earlier African kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai had passed. The dominant power in Africa was Kanem Bornu. From the 9th century to 19th century spanning from today countries of Niger, Chad, Cameroon, Libya and Nigeria.

In the sixteenth century civilization of Kanem-Borno and the emperor’s cavalry had golden “stirrups, spurs, bits and buckles.” even the ruler’s dogs had “chains of the finest gold”.

Ngazargamu, the capital city of Kanem-Borno, became one of the largest cities in the world during the seventeenth century.
By 1658AD the metropolis housed about quarter of a million people with 660 streets, Many of the streets were wide and unbending, reflective of town planning.

The empire was founded by the Zaghawa nomadic people, who may have been the first in the central Sudan to acquire and make use of iron technology and horses.

First mentioned by Arab chroniclers in the 9th century, and by the 10th century the ruler of Kanem had control of the Kawar Oases, a vital economic asset. The political structure of the Kanem empire grown out of rival states under the control of the Zaghawa.

In the 11th century the Zaghawa clans were driven out by Humai ibn Salamna, who founded the kingdom of Kanem with Njimi as capital, the empire became a world trading arena. Establishing the Saifwa dynasty, a dynasty which ruled for 771 years—the longest known reign in history.

Saifwa rulers (known as mais) claimed they were descended from a heroic Arabic figure, and the dynasty greatly expanded the influence of Islam, making it the religion of the court.

Wealth came largely through trade, especially in gold and slaves, which was facilitated by the empire’s position near important North-South trade routes.

Conflicts from outside forces were also enhanced by the empire’s policy of collateral succession of brother succeeding brother which produced short reigns and unstable situations.

In the late 14th century the Saifawa were forced to retreat west across Lake Chad and establish a new kingdom called Bornu. This is the origin of the name Kanem-Bornu.

Bornu expanded territorially and commercially, but increasing threats from other rival states, drought, trade problems, and rebellious Fulani groups eroded state control. Threatened by several Fulani Jihadist the Empire survived.

Muhammad al-Amin al-Kanemi, a Muslim cleric, eventually defeated some rebellious Fulani and built a new capitol at Kukawa in 1814. His successors ended the Saifwa dynasty and the Kanem-Bornu Empire when they killed the last mai in 1846.

Al-Kanemi’s Shehu dynasty was short-lived, and succeeded by slaver and warlord Rabih Zubayr, who was defeated by the French Imperialist in 1900.

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