Sayfawa dynasty

Sayfawa dynasty or more properly Sefuwa dynasty is the name of the kings (or mai, as they called themselves) of the Kanem-Bornu Empire, centered first in Kanem in western Chad, and then, after 1380, in Borno (today north-eastern Nigeria).

Theories on the origins of this dynasty vary. Many scholars assert that it may have been rooted in a Tubu expansion or comprised an indigenous dynasty. Other theories have also been made. The German historian Dierk Lange has argued that the advent of the Sayfawa dynasty came in the 11th century, when Hummay consolidated Islam in Kanem. Lange adds that Hummay's advent represented the ascent of a Berber dynasty over the previous Duguwa Zaghawa one.[1]

In the Islamic period the Sayfawa themselves claimed as their eponymous ancestor the late pre-Islamic Yemenite hero Sayf ibn Dhi Yazan, hence their amended name Sayf-awa. This tradition was first mentioned by the Andalusian scholar Ibn Said in the 13th century, and Lange believes it to be mainly the fruit of the reinterpretation of an indigenous tradition by Muslim scholars who arrived to Kanem from regions where Himyarite traditions were strong.[2] Formerly most historians thought, that the leaders of this new dynasty belonged to the indigenous Kanembu.[3]

According to recent research, Kanem was founded by immigrants from the collapsing Assyrian Empire, claiming descent from Sef (1)/Sargon of Akkad, hence their name Sef-uwa. The Duguwa traced their ancestry in addition to Duku (2), the third figure of the list, and should therefore be properly designated as Sefuwa-Duguwa. From Hummay (12) onward the Sefuwa should more properly be called Sefuwa-Humewa or Sayfawa-Humewa, according to the ancestral figures Sef/Sipa (Sargon of Akkad) - in the Islamic period identified with Sayf b. Dhi Yazan - and the dynastic founder Hume (1068-1080).[4]

The dynasty, one of Africa's longest living, lost the throne in 1846.

Contents

Table of Sefuwa-Duguwa kings in Kanem

Name of the king Earlier dating [5] Historical name and dating [6] Historical identity
(1) Sef c. 700 Sargon of Akkad (2334-2279) Founder of the Akkadian Empire
(2) Ibrahim c. 740 Abraham Legendary Israelite patriarch
(3) Dugu c. 785 Hammurabi (1792-1750) Founder of the Amorite Empire
(4) Fune c. 835 Pûl/Tiglath-pileser III (744-727) Founder of Neo-Assyrian Empire
(5) Arsu c. 893 Rusâ/Ursâ I (730-713) 6th Urartian king
(6) Katur c. 942 Kutir-Nahhunte (1185-1155) 85th Elamite king
(7) Buyuma c. 961 Bunuma-Addu (c. 1770) 1st king of Nihrija/Nairi
(8) Bulu c. 1019 Nabopolassar (626-605) 1st Neo-Babylonian king
(9) Arku c. 1035 Assur-uballit II (612-609) Last king of Assyria
(10) Shu c. 1077 Sammuramat (810-807) Regent during the infancy of Adad-nirari III (810-783)
Unknown ? ?
Kak.r.ah . . Local king c. 870 CE[7]
Unknown ? ?
(11) Abd al-Jalil/Selma c. 1081 First Duguwa king (1064-1068) First Muslim ruler of Kanem

Sayfawa-Humewa kings in Kanem

Hume or Hummay 1068–1080[8]
Dunama I ibn Hummay 1080–1133
Bir I or Biri I 1133–1160
Abdallah I or Bikorom or Dala I 1160–1176
Salmama I or Abd al-Jalil 1176–1203
Dunama II Dabbalemi 1203–1242
Kaday I 1242–1270
Biri I or Kashim Biri 1270–1290
Ibrahim I 1290–1310
Abdallah II 1310–1328
Salmama II 1328–1332
Kuri Ghana 1332–1333
Kuri Kura 1334–1335
Muhammad I 1334–1335
Idris I Nigalemi 1335–1359
Dawud Nigalemi 1359–1369
Uthman I 1369–1373
Uthman II 1373–1375
Abu Bakr Liyatu 1375–1376
Umar I or Umar ibn Idris 1376–1381

Sayfawa kings in Bornu

Said 1381–1382[9]
Kaday II 1382–1383
Bir III 1383-1415
Uthman III Kaliwama 1415-1415
Dunama III 1415-1417
Abdallah III Dakumuni 1417-1425
Ibrahim II 1425-1433
Kaday III 1433-1434
Ahmad Dunama IV 1434-1438
Muhammad II 1438
Amr 1438-1439
Muhammad III 1439
Ghazi or Ghaji 1439-1444
Uthman IV 1444-1449
Umar II 1449-1450
Muhammad IV 1450-1455
Ali Gazi or Ali Ghajideni 1455-1487
Idris Katarkamabi 1487-1509
Muhammad V Aminami 1509-1538
Ali II of Bornu 1538-1539
Dunama V Ngumarsmma 1539-1557
Dala or Abd Allah 1557-1564
Aissa Kili (legendary)
Idris III Alauma or Idris Alooma 1564-1596[10]
Muhammed VI Bukalmarami 1596-1612
Ibrahim III of Bornu 1612-1619
Umar| (Hadj) 1619-1639
Ali II 1639-1677
Idris IV of Bornu 1677-1696
Dunama VII 1696-1715
Hamdan (Hadj) 1715-1729
Muhammad VII of Bornu 1729-1744
Dunama VIII Gana 1744-1447
Ali III 1747-1792
Ahmad 1792-1808
Dunama IX Lefiami 1808-1816
Muhammad VIII 1816-1820
Ibrahim IV of Bornu 1820-1846
Ali V Dalatumi 1846

See also

References

  1. ^ Lange, Diwan, 95-107.
  2. ^ Levtzion, "The Sahara and the Sudan", 682-683; Lange, "Kingdoms", 238-265.
  3. ^ US Country Studies: Chad
  4. ^ Lange, Founding of Kanem, 27-38.
  5. ^ Urvoy, Empire, 26.
  6. ^ Lange: Founding of Kanem, 13-16.
  7. ^ Levtzion/Hopkins, Corpus, 21.
  8. ^ Dates calculated on the basis of Lange, Diwan, 65-77; id., Kingdoms, 552.
  9. ^ Dates calculated on the basis of Lange, Diwan, 77-94; id., Kingdoms, 552.
  10. ^ From now on dates follow Lange, Diwan, 80-94.

Bibliography