The Sultanate of Bornu

This translation brings a German scholar’s early‑20th‑century study of the once‑mighty Bornu Empire to life, guiding listeners through the rise of a kingdom that stretched from Fezzan to the Niger in the fifteenth century. It sketches the political landscape before the Hausa and Fulani became dominant forces, highlighting the Kanuri’s distinct language, religion and social structure, and explains why their empire remained untouched by later conquests.

Interwoven with vivid geographic descriptions, the book includes detailed maps and a generous array of scientific appendices that catalog the region’s wildlife, from mammals to insects. The translator’s candid notes illuminate the challenges of rendering German scholarship into English and provide context for British colonial observations. Listeners will come away with a nuanced portrait of a forgotten African power, its peoples, and the scholarly effort required to preserve its story.