Uthman I of KanemUthman I was mai of the Kanem–Bornu Empire in the mid-14th century, ruling approximately 1363–1366.LifeUthman I was a son of mai Dawud Nikalemi, who he succeeded as mai in the mid-14th century. In Dawud's reign, the empire had been invaded from the east by the Bilala. The invasion saw the death of Dawud in battle and the loss of the imperial capital, Njimi, to the Bilala. Uthman I continued the war against the Bilala and had some initial success, even recapturing Njimi. Uthman was not able to completely turn the tide of the conflict and was after a short reign defeated and killed at Njimi by the resurgent Bilala. He was succeeded as mai by his namesake cousin Uthman II.