Ali II Zainami

Ali II, called Ali Zainami, was briefly mai of the Kanem–Bornu Empire in the mid-16th century, ruling approximately 1544–1545.

Life

Ali was a son of mai Idris III Katagarmabe. His mother was named Zainab. Ali became mai in the mid-16th century, succeeding his brother Muhammad VI Aminami. Ali was remembered as a just ruler, who kept the Bilala, vassal rulers of Kanem, in strict subjection to the empire.
Ali had a short reign, described by the German explorer Heinrich Barth as "too short to be of any real importance". He may have ruled for just a year, or perhaps for about five years. Ali died at a site in Bornu called Zamtam and was succeeded as mai by Dunama VI Muhammad, probably his nephew. Ali is known to have had a consort named Amsa Aliram, who was the mother of Ali's son Idris IV Alooma.