Muhammad al-Amîn al-Kânemî

Muhammad al-Amîn al-Kânemî. Engraving by Edward Francis Find (1826).

Al-Hadjdj Muhammad al-Amîn al-Kânemî (* 1776 in Libya ; † 1837 ) was a Muslim scholar from the Kanembu people .

Al-Kânemî grew up in Murzuk , the historical center of today's Libyan Fessan . At first he worked as an Islamic scholar in the west of the Bornu Empire . When the Fulani leader Usman dan Fodio , ruler of the Sokoto Caliphate he founded in 1804, invaded Borno in 1808 and was able to bring large parts of the country under his control, Bornus asked Regent Dunama IX. Lefiami al-Kânemî for his support. With the help of his numerous followers, al-Kânemî managed to drive the invaders out of Bornu. As a reward, he received the honorary title "Shehu" (" Sheikh“) And control of a province in the west of the country.

Based on high trade revenues and a strong army, al-Kânemî had a great influence on the politics of the country after defeating dan Fodio. He not only conducted the negotiations with Sokoto, but also intervened in the controversy for the throne in Bornu: This is how he behaved Dunama, who had been expelled by his uncle in 1809, back to the throne. In fact, al-Kânemî had risen to become the true ruler, while the Sefuwa had declined to titular rulers. After a plot by Dunama and the ruler of Baguirmis to remove al-Kânemî had failed, Dunama was replaced by Ibrahim in 1820; al-Kânemî had himself appointed by the new regent as Shehu of all of Bornu and was able to formally expand his power to the whole country.

When al-Kânemî died in 1837, he was followed by his son Umar (1837–1881). With the final elimination of the Sefuwa in 1846, it established the Shehu dynasty of Bornu.