Biri I Uthman

Biri I, also recorded as Uthman Biri, was mai of the Kanem–Bornu Empire in the mid-to-late 12th century, ruling approximately 1151–1177.

Life

Biri was a son of mai Dunama I Umemi. His mother was named Fasama and hailed from the Kay tribe of Dirkou. Biri succeeded his father as mai after Dunama was killed on a pilgrimage while in Egypt. Biri was, at least in his early reign, completely under the influence of his mother Fasama, who governed the empire as regent. As regent, Fasama's power apparently eclipsed Biri's own; the girgam records an incident when Biri had a thief executed, violating Islamic law. As punishment for this, Fasama had Biri imprisoned for an entire year.
Biri eventually came into his own as a ruler and was remembered in later tradition as a very learned ruler, though "weak in his conduct of the government". Biri ruled for 26–27 years. The site of his death is recorded as Ghamtilú, or variations thereof. Biri was succeeded as mai by his son Abdullah I Bikur.