Hummay

Hummay was mai (ruler) of the Kanem–Bornu Empire in the late 11th century, ruling approximately 1085–1097. Later tradition records Hummay as the founder of the Sayfawa dynasty, which went on to rule the empire for over seven centuries. Hummay is sometimes erroneously referred to as the first Muslim ruler of the empire, a distinction that belongs to the earlier mai Hu. The nature of Hummay's rise to the throne and the fall of the preceding Duguwa dynasty is unclear since most sources identify the last Duguwa mai, Selema I, as Hummay's father.

Origin and rise to the throne Hummay's rise to the throne of Kanem in the late 11th century is by later sources considered to have marked the rise of a new royal dynasty, the Sayfawa dynasty. Earlier mais are said to have belonged to the empire's original dynasty, the Duguwa dynasty. The nature of Hummay's rise to the throne and what is meant by the dynastic shift is unclear. Most versions of the girgam (the empire's royal chronicle) records Hummay as the son of his direct predecessor, Selema I (who is also called Abd al-Jalil). Hiribarren (2016) suggested that Hummay seized power with the help of a pro-Islam faction at court. who are associated with the kingdom in Arab sources from the 9th to the 11th century.

Hummay ruled for 12 or 22/23 years. He is recorded to have died in Masr, i.e. Egypt. One source specifies the precise location as "Rukana, of many mosques". The location of his death suggests that he intended to, or perhaps completed, a pilgrimage to Mecca. Hummay was succeeded as mai by his son Dunama I Umemi. The Sayfawa dynasty ruled the Kanem–Bornu Empire until 1846, becoming one of the longest-ruling dynasties in world history.