List of mais of Kanem–Bornu in the context of "Bornu Empire"

The Kanem–Bornu Empire was an empire based around Lake Chad that once ruled areas which are now part of Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, Libya, Algeria, Sudan, and Chad. The empire was sustained by the prosperous trans-Saharan trade and was one of the oldest and longest-lived empires in African history.

The early history of the Kanem–Bornu Empire is poorly known. The empire is believed to have been founded around the year 700, though later and earlier dates have also been proposed. The Duguwa dynasty ruled the empire from their capital Njimi in the Kanem region (in modern-day Chad) and used the ruling title mai. In the 11th century, the empire converted to Islam and the Duguwa were replaced with the Sayfawa dynasty. The Kanem-based empire was brought to its zenith by the 13th-century mai Dunama II Dibalemi. The empire exerted considerable control over Saharan trade routes and exported salt, ivory, slaves, and animal products. The salt industry was particularly prosperous, with the empire able to provide salt across the surrounding region.

Dunama II (Dunama bin ʿAbd al-Jalīl), called Dunama Dibalemi and Dunama Selmami, was mai (ruler) of the Kanem–Bornu Empire in the early-to-mid 13th century, ruling approximately 1221–1259. Dunama is remembered as one of the most energetic and influential rulers of the empire.

Dunama was an accomplished warrior-king who oversaw several important military innovations, possibly including the introduction of both cavalry warfare and mail armor. His reign was marked by successful efforts of military and economic expansion, an increasingly feudal political system, increased diplomatic ties with North Africa and Egypt, and further Islamization of the empire. Dunama brought Kanem to the peak of its power, leaving the empire as the most powerful state in Central Africa by the time of his death.