The fourth major empire of the Western Sahel was centered further east than the other dynasties. Its base of power was around the Lake Chad region. Known by two names because as Kanem, it was located on the NE shore. When it was forced by military pressure to relocate between 1350 and 1400 to the SW shore, its new town was called Bornu. The founders were Sayfawa. This branch was called Kanurai after they migrated to Bornu but had been known as the Kanembu while living in Kanem.

Early Sayfawa, 800-1100 AD, were nomadic without a central town as a capital. It is during this period that the Kanembu and Bulala split into two distinct factions. Around 1200 the Kanembu established Kanem and other towns along the northern shore of Lake Chad. After a period of initial growth, the years between 1260 and 1350 were marked by civil war between various factions for control of the government.

From 1376 and 1400 the Kanem armies suffered several defeats at the hands of their Sayfawa cousins, the Bulala. This was a primary reason for their migration at this time to the southern shore of lake Chad. The 1400s continued to be a period of reorganization and civil war with the weakened army suffering minor defeats to various enemies. The 1500s saw a reversal of fortune and the Bornu armies began to achieve success. The height of the Bornu empire is often regarded as the period 1571-1603. The Bulala war was finally ended and the empire expanded both north and west.

During the 1500s, Bornu armies decided to end the raiding by Taureg and Teda Bedouins. In addition to obtaining some Bedouin allies, they mounted and trained an elite force of lancers to fight from camels.

In 1571 the army underwent a major reorganization. A mobile core of armored riders on armored horses was retained. However, some elite units were rearmed with firearms and trained by Turkish advisors. While the bulk of the feudal levies remained armed with bow and spear. The failure to rearm the levies may have been used to help the central authority maintain superiority over the forces of local chiefs. Under Mai Aluma (1571-1603), the Bornu army is reported to have fought in 330 campaigns and over 1000 battles.

During the 1600s and 1700s the Bornu influence began to dwindle. By the late 1700s, Bornu forces controlled only the land west of Lake Chad. Eventually in the early 1800s the Bornu forces were defeated by the new aggressive Fulani empire.

Bornu armies prior to the introduction of firearms contained a high percentage of armored cavalry. Most Kanuri troops were mounted while the local levies and subject troops fought mainly on foot.

Medieval Empires of Africa's Sahel

Historical Background
Ghana
Mali
Songhai
Kaneum-Bornu
Minor Powers of the Region