Ali Fannami

Ali Fannami
Regent of the Kanem–Bornu Empire
Burial
Garuza, Bornu
DynastySayfawa dynasty
FatherMuhammad VI Aminami
MotherFanna

Ali (ʿAlī bin Muḥammad), called Ali Fannami, Ali Ghamarami, and Ali Ngumaramma, was a prince of the Sayfawa dynasty who may have served as regent of the Kanem–Bornu Empire in the mid-16th century, ruling in the name of his nephew mai Abdullah IV Dunamami. Ali was remembered in later tradition as a mighty builder.

Life

Ali was a son of mai Muhammad VI Aminami and Fanna, and a full brother of mai Dunama VI Muhammad. Some girgams (king lists) add Ali as a ruler of the empire between Dunama and Dunama's son Abdullah IV Dunamami. Ali is most often interpreted as having served as regent for Abdullah, then suggested to have been too young to rule, though the situation is not clear.

The length of Ali's possible regency is unknown. Ali was remembered as a "mighty builder". He is credited with building the settlement of Garuza (in modern-day Bauchi State, Nigeria) and was reportedly buried there.

Notes

  1. ↑ "Ali, son of Fanna"
  2. ↑ Translated by Richmond Palmer as "Ali of the tribe of Gimara", supposedly pointing to the origin of his mother. This name is alternatively spelled Gimarami, Ghamarámi, and Rhamarami.

References

  1. 1 2 Cohen, Ronald (1966). "The Bornu King Lists". Boston University Papers on Africa: Volume II: African History. Boston University Press. p. 64.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Palmer, H. R. (1912). "The Bornu Girgam". Journal of the Royal African Society. 12 (45): 78–79. ISSN 0368-4016.
  3. ↑ Barth, Heinrich (1857). Travels and Discoveries in North and Central Africa: Being a Journal of an Expedition Undertaken under the Auspices of H.B.M.'s Government, in the Years 1849–1855. Longmans. p. 649.
  4. ↑ Stokvis, A. M. H. J. (1888). Manuel d'histoire, de généalogie et de chronologie de tous les états du globe, depuis les temps les plus reculés jusqu'à nos jours (in French). Brill. p. 484.
  5. ↑ Davies, J. G. (1954). The Biu Book: A Collation and Reference Book on Biu Division (Northern Nigeria). NORLA. p. 273.
  6. 1 2 3 Ajayi, J. F. Ade; Crowder, Michael (1976). History of West Africa: Volume 1. Longman. p. 268. ISBN 978-0-582-64187-7.
  7. 1 2 Bosworth, Clifford Edmund (2012) [1996]. The New Islamic Dynasties: A Chronological and Genealogical Manual. Edinburgh University Press. p. 127. ISBN 0-7486-2137-7.