Selema II

Selema II (Sǝlǝma),^[1][a] also recorded as Abd al-Jalil (ʿAbd al-Jalīl bin ʿAbdallāh),^[2] was the mai of the Kanem–Bornu Empire in 1194–1221.^[2][3]

Selema II
Mai of the Kanem–Bornu Empire
Reign	1194–1221
Predecessor	Abdullah I Bikur
Successor	Dunama II Dabbalemi
Spouse	Dibala
Issue	Dunama II Dabbalemi
Dynasty	Sayfawa dynasty
Father	Abdullah I Bikur
Mother	Huwa

Life

Selema was the son of Abdullah I Bikur and Huwa.^[1] He succeeded his father as mai in 1194.^[2][3] The reign of Selema was a prosperous one and his reign saw the Kanem–Bornu Empire rise to dominate "the whole desert".^[4]

Selema's consort was named Dibala.^[1] They had at least one son together, Dunama II Dabbalemi,^[1] who succeeded Selema as mai in 1221.^[2][3]

Notes

1. Several rulers of Kanem–Bornu are recorded with both Arabic and Kanuri names and scholars vary in which name is preferred. Sǝlǝma is this ruler's Kanuri name and is, among others, preferred by Cohen (1966). The ǝ:s in Sǝlǝma are pronounced similar to the oo sound in book or look.^[1] Sǝlǝma means "black" or "dark-skinned" in Kanuri and may be a nickname.^[1]