Dirke Kelem
Mai of the Kanem–Bornu Empire
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dirke Kelem[a] (Dirke Kelem bin Dunama[3]) was mai (ruler) of the Kanem–Bornu Empire in the mid-to-late 13th century.[3] A son of mai Dunama II Dibalemi, Dirke Kelem ruled during a several decade-long period of succession conflict between the sons of Dunama.[1] The precise sequence and chronology of mais is unclear in this period, which lasted from Dunama's death to the rise of Ibrahim I Nikale.[3]
| Dirke Kelem | |
|---|---|
| Mai of the Kanem–Bornu Empire | |
| Reign | 13th century |
| Predecessor | Jalil (?) |
| Successor | Ibrahim I Nikale |
| Dynasty | Sayfawa dynasty |
| Father | Dunama II Dibalemi |
Sources
Dirke Kelem is recorded in lists of Kanem–Bornu rulers (girgams) translated by Gustav Nachtigal (1881), Moïse Landeroin (1911), and in the work of Yves Urvoy (1941).[1] He is omitted in lists translated by Heinrich Barth (1851) and Richmond Palmer (1936).[1] Among later authors, Dirke Kelem is omitted by Lange (1984)[4] and Stewart (1989),[5] but included by Bosworth (2012).[3]
| Author | Reign | Predecessor | Successor | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barth (1851) | Omitted | — | — | [1] |
| Nachtigal (1881) | 28 years (1309–1337) | Jalil | Kade I Aujami | [1] |
| Landeroin (1911) | 19 years (1255–1274) | Jalil | Kade I Aujami | [1] |
| Palmer (1936) | Omitted | — | — | [1] |
| Urvoy (1941) | 19 years (1262–1281) | Jalil | Ibrahim I Nikale | [1] |
| Lange (1984) | Omitted | — | — | [4] |
| Stewart (1989) | Omitted | — | — | [5] |
| Bosworth (2012) | ? | Jalil | Ibrahim I Nikale | [3] |