Ibrahim I Nikale

Ibrahim Nikale, enumerated as Ibrahim I, was mai of the Kanem–Bornu Empire in the late 13th and/or early 14th century, ruling approximately 1290–1311.

Life

Ibrahim Nikale was a son of mai Biri II Ibrahim. His mother was named Kagudi and came from the tribe of the "Kúnkuna". A grandson of mai Dunama II Dibalemi, Ibrahim succeeded his uncle Dirke Kelem as mai in the late 13th century. Ibrahim's father and uncles had been engaged in a succession conflict prior to his rise to the throne and reigned in quick succession.
Ibrahim was faced with succession conflicts of his own. At some point in his reign, Ibrahim had one of his sons killed, probably because this son had revolted against him. Ibrahim at some point made a pilgrimage to Mecca, and is therefore given the honorific al-Ḥājj in some sources.
After a reign of about twenty years, Ibrahim was murdered by the yerima Muhammad bin Ghadi at a site recorded as Dískama. Muhammad had Ibrahim's body thrown in the Wau River and power in the empire passed to Ibrahim's cousin Abdullah II Kademi.