Dawud Nikalemi

Dawud, called Dawud Nikalemi and Dawud Fatimami, was mai of the Kanem–Bornu Empire in the mid-14th century, ruling approximately 1353–1363. Dawud was the first mai to fight against the Bilala, who would remain enemies of the empire for centuries. He was the progenitor of the Dawudid line of the Sayfawa dynasty, which competed for the throne with the rival Idrisid line in the century following his death.

Life

Dawud was a son of mai Ibrahim I Nikale.' His mother was named Fatima,' daughter of Nâsamu. Dawud succeeded his half-brother Idris I Nikalemi' as mai in the mid-14th century. Dawud became mai over many sons of Idris, which provoked resentment and eventually a civil war over the succession. Although Dawud maintained his hold on the throne for about a decade, the civil war weakened the armies of the empire and the Sayfawa dynasty was divided into the Idrisid and Dawudid branches, which would compete over the throne for the next century.' Dawud may also have faced one or more of his own sons in a civil war, as descendants of exiled sons of Dawud were later encountered among the "Ghammúwa" by the 16th-century mai Idris IV Alooma in his military campaigns.
With his armies weakened, Dawud was unable to counter an invasion of the empire by the Bilala from the east. Dawud was the first mai to fight against the Bilala. The invasion marked the beginning of a destructive conflict between the Sayfawa and the Bilala, which would last for centuries. The Bilala defeated Dawud in battle and temporarily captured Njimi, the imperial capital. Dawud was not able to retake the capital and was killed by the Bilala ruler Abd al-Jalil at a site identified as Mélfala, located in the lands surrounding Lake Fitri. He was succeeded as mai by his son Uthman I.''''