Kanem (historical region)

This article is about the historical region. For the modern Chadian administrative region, see Kanem (region). For the empire, see Kanem–Bornu Empire.

Kanem, sometimes spelled Kanim or Kánem, is a precolonial historical region in Central Africa, located northeast of Lake Chad. In the modern day, Kanem is located in southwestern Chad and its traditional territory is divided between three administrative regions: Kanem, Lac, and Bahr el Gazel.

Kanem was the cradle and original heartland of the Kanem–Bornu Empire, which was established c. 700. The Kanem–Bornu Empire ruled Kanem until the 14th century, when Kanem was conquered by the Bilala and the center of the empire shifted to Bornu, west of Lake Chad. The Bilala established their own kingdom in Kanem and ruled the region until the 17th century. The Kanem–Bornu Empire then established a vassal state in the region, ruled by the Dalatoa. Dalatoa-ruled Kanem was subjected to various surrounding states and groups until European colonisation during the Scramble for Africa in the early 20th century.

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