Ashimi of Borno

Hashim bin Umar al-Kanemi, called Ashimi or Hashimi, was the shehu (ruler) of the Kanem–Bornu Empire in 1885/1886–1893. Ashimi is remembered as a pious and honest but also weak and indecisive ruler. Ashimi presided over a time of both economic and political crisis and faced the colonial interests of Britain and France, as well as an invasion of the empire by the warlord Rabih az-Zubayr, challenges he proved unprepared for. In the aftermath of disastrous losses to Rabih in 1893, Ashimi was replaced as shehu with his nephew Kyari and then assassinated.

Accession Ashimi was a brother of his immediate predecessors, shehus Ibrahim Kura and Bukar Kura, The reason for Kyari having Ashimi killed is unclear. Some accounts claim that Ashimi was corresponding with Rabih whereas others claim that Kyari feared that loyalties among his courtiers and forces would be divided between himself and his uncle.

Family Ashimi reportedly had over 350 children, many of who were adults by the time of his accession in 1885/1886.