Abubakar Garbai

Abu Bakr ibn Ibrahim Kura al-Kanemi, known as Abubakar Garbai and Bukar Garbai, was the last ruler of the Kanem–Bornu Empire, ruling as shehu in 1900 and in 1901–1902. He later served as the first shehu of British Borno (the modern-day Borno Emirate), a traditional state under the British Northern Nigeria Protectorate and later Nigeria Protectorate, in 1902–1922.

Garbai was a son of Ibrahim Kura, who had ruled as shehu in 1884/1885–1885/1886 and came to power in the aftermath of French and British conflicts against the Sudanese warlord Rabih az-Zubayr, who had ruled Kanem–Bornu in 1893–1900. After Rabih's defeat, Garbai's brother Sanda Kura was made shehu by the French. Sanda Kura's rule was dissatisfactory to the French, who replaced him with Garbai in July or August 1900. Garbai's reign saw conflict with Rabih's son, Fadlallah, and came to an end as France, Britain, and Germany carved up the territories of the Kanem–Bornu Empire under their own colonial spheres of influence. In April 1902, Garbai accepted an offer to serve as the figurehead ruler of the British portion of the empire.

Garbai maintained a large degree of autonomy and power under the British, particularly in regards to tax collection and dispensation of justice. It was initially intended to rebuild the ruined old Kanem–Bornu capital of Kukawa, though this proved infeasible and Garbai instead chose Maiduguri as his seat. During World War I (1914–1918), Garbai helped the British with local support, which helped to ensure a relatively swift British victory over German troops in the region. Garbai's territory and autonomy was subsequently increased. Garbai continued to serve as shehu until his death in 1922.