Sa'id of Bornu

Saʽid was briefly mai of the Kanem–Bornu Empire in the late 14th century, ruling approximately 1387–1388. Saʽid ruled during the "Era of Instability", a chaotic period of internal and external conflict in the empire.

Life

Saʽid was a son of mai Idris I Nikalemi. Saʽid succeeded his brother Umar I Idrismi as mai in the late 14th century. Umar's reign had seen the loss of the empire's heartland, Kanem, to the Bilala, forcing Umar to re-center the empire west of Lake Chad in Bornu. Saʽid was thus the first ruler of the empire who for the entirety of his reign ruled only Bornu. He may have been chosen to succeed Umar over other possible successors due to better representing the interests of the inhabitants of Bornu in some way.
Saʽid's reign was short. After a year or less on the throne, Saʽid faced an invasion of the Bilala into Bornu and was killed by the invaders near a site called Dekakíya. He was succeeded as mai by his brother Muhammad II Manza.