Hu of Kanem
Hu or Hawwa was the legendary tenth mai of the Kanem–Bornu Empire, ruling in the 11th century. As the earliest ruler associated with Islam in the empire's royal chronicle, Hu is generally identified as the first Muslim ruler of the empire. Some elements in the source material suggest that Hu might have been a woman, notably that Hawwa is a feminine name.
Life
According to the girgam, Hu was a child of their predecessor, Arki. The name of Hu's mother is given as Tefsú by Barth Tagasu by Palmer, and Teksuwa by Palmer and Cohen. Hu's mother was "daugher of Gayu, of the tribe of Tumagari". The girgam states that Hu was "invested by the caliph" or "made caliph", interpreted as meaning that Hu was a Muslim. The rulers of Kanem converted to Islam in the 11th century and Hu is often identified as the first Muslim ruler of the empire. It is not clear if Hu converted in their reign or was already Muslim when they acceded to the throne. The term "invested" could imply an unorthodox rise to the throne. A pro-Islam faction at the royal court might have put forth Hu as the strongest Muslim claimant for the throne they could find after Arki's death.Barth noted that Hu was "distinguished by his fine figure" and speculated that this might mean that Hu was an effeminate man. In 1988, Lange stated that although the girgam refers to Hu as male, the name Ḥawwāʽ implies that Hu could have been a woman: Hawwa is a feminine name and the Arabic name for Eve. The many different version of Hu's name could be explained by later scribes attempting to hide that Hu was female. The possibility that Hu was a woman has also been raised by several later authors, including Philip Koslow, Timothy Insoll, and Barry Cunliffe, sometimes by outright designating Hu as a queen. Later tradition claims that Hu was a seducer, with one copy of the girgam recording that "There once entered to a girl —a daughter of the royal house—and seduced by her wiles. They saw her wearing seven gowns by reason of her blandishments. Therefore daughters of the royal house are prohibited from visiting the Sultan."
If a reign of only four years is correct, Hu might have ruled at a time of intense internal crisis as the empire transitioned from officially following traditional religions to Islam. There may also have been struggles between adherents of different branches of Islam. Hu might have been an adherent of Ibadi Islam, whereas Sunni Islam was eventually triumphant in Kanem. According to Barth, Hu died at a site called Ghanta Kamna. Palmer recorded the similar name Ghanata Agaman. Palmer stated that Hu was buried at a site called Kutushi Kôwan, which Palmer placed "east of the country now called Damarghu and Damagaram". Per the girgam, Hu was succeeded as mai by their son, Selema I. Hu's consort might have been named Bure, though that name is given only by Palmer.