Dunama VIII Gana

Dunama VIII, called Dunama Gana and Dunama Sr'ir, was mai of the Kanem–Bornu Empire in the mid-18th century, ruling approximately 1747–1750.

Life

Dunama VIII was a son of mai Muhammad VIII Ergama, who he succeeded as mai in the mid-18th century. A girgam translated by Richmond Palmer states that Dunama's mother was "Lefiya, the daughter of Dunama". According to the German explorer Heinrich Barth, who visited Bornu in the 1850s, Dunama was young at the time of his accession. The nickname Gana, associated with Dunama, means "small one", "the younger", or "the little". There was a very severe famine in Dunama's reign.
Dunama's rule was short, lasting only two or three years. He died at Ngazargamu and was succeeded as mai by his cousin Ali IV Kalirgima.