Islamic Timeline of RevelationOpen on the timeline →West AfricaAfrica
Kanem–Bornu Empire
The Kanem–Bornu Empire around Lake Chad was ruled for centuries by the Sayfawa dynasty, whose kings converted to Islam in the 11th century. In the late 14th century the dynasty moved west from Kanem to Bornu, where it reached its height under Idris Alooma in the late 16th century. Rabih az-Zubayr conquered it in 1893.
Key facts
| Dates | c. 700 CE – 1893 CE |
|---|---|
| Region | West Africa |
| Continent | Africa |
| Capitals | Njimi, Ngazargamu, Kukawa |
| Religion(s) | Traditional African religion, Sunni Islam |
| Peak extent | ≈ 0.13 million km² (c. 1892 CE) – source |
Note on dates: Wikipedia's infobox gives 1902, when the remaining sultanate came under colonial rule.
Sources
Dates follow widely used reference works; many ancient dates are approximate or debated. Neutral summary for general reference.