Ghazi

Gaji (Ghājī), also recorded as Ali (‘Alī), Possibly a usurper, Gaji ruled during the "Era of Instability", a chaotic period of internal and external conflict in the empire.

Life Later sources record Gaji as the son of Imala, (The name of Gaji's mother is rendered differently depending on the transcription.) Cohen (1966) used Imala. and Palmer (1936) used Imalaha. Modern scholars have proposed various connections to the empire's ruling Sayfawa dynasty. Yves Urvoy (1941) believed that Gaji was Amarma's son. In 1984, Dierk Lange suggested that Gaji was a son of mai Kade III and thus a brother of his immediate predecessor (Muhammad IV) and successor (Uthman IV). Ronald Cohen suggested in 1966 that the lack of a name for Gaji's father meant that he was a usurper, with no familial connection to the Sayfawa dynasty.

Gaji became mai in the mid-15th century, succeeding Muhammad IV. Gaji ruled for five or six years. His reign was noted for continued conflict against the Bilala of Kanem. During these wars, Gaji earned the nickname "the fever of the Bilala". Gaji was ultimately killed in battle by the Bilala ruler Muhammad bin Abdullah. He was succeeded as mai by Uthman IV. The site of Gaji's death is recorded as Matakla Ghamer (or variations thereof, such as Mangul Gainaram), possibly a corruption of "Bilala Gawala".