The following is a praise song to the Magira Aisa, a daughter of one of the most important rulers in the annals of the Sayfawa, Dunama Dibalemi. According to the praise song, Aisa became magira, perhaps meant here as symbolic rather than actually the mother of a king. The song is very interesting for what it suggests about the power of elite women in medieval Kanem, even during the apogee of medieval Kanem in the late 13th century. In addition to holding "fiefs" in various regions, she also received praised for military leadership ("battle-axe, the whip of Wadai") and for her ability to provide ("honey, honey cakes"). According to Patterson's footnotes, the reference to honey cakes here is to their use as subsistence for military campaigns, again suggesting the wealth and status of the Magira was at least in part invested in military expeditions. It seems highly unlikely that Aisa herself led campaigns, but further investigation into this topic is required to know for certain.
What about trying to connect the praise song to the 13th century? Again, there are anachronisms in the text, such as the reference to Wadai (the "Tajuwa" under Kanem's suzerainty mentioned by Ibn Said?) or Gambaru (the former certainly did not exist as such in the 13th century). However, we know Kanem under Dunama Dibalemi did extend its influence far to the north (the Fezzan) and to other areas around Lake Chad and the east. Perhaps the allusions to Bagirmi or Wadai are simply references to those directions as regions under the influence of Kanem or subject to predatory raids. It may have been similar for the references to Air and Damergu, although we have evidence from mahrams supposedly written in medieval Kanem that mention Air. Indeed, one wonders if references to Kanem's overlord ship of "Berbers" in the 1200s may actually be a reference to Berbers in Air and southern Libya.
After all, we know from the Diwan that conflict with the Tubu erupted during the reign of Aisa's father, Dunama. In addition, via al-Maqrizi we learn of a Kanem raid or attack on the Mabna people in 1252/53, perhaps a group in the Lake Chad region (Mober?). Even more intriguing is the assassination of Dunama Dibalemi's son, Kade (Kaday) in 1277 by a court dignitary. According to the same Diwan, Kade was succeeded by a brother, Bir. Perhaps the prominence of Aisa was due to her helping a younger brother consolidate his reign during troubled times, after the assassination of her other brother? Furthermore, Nur Alkali saw the period of conflict after the reign of Dunama Dibalemi as one related to ecological changes, leading to conflict over scarcer resources. This might explain praise songs mentioning the extensive lands held by the Magira, her ability to support food for soldiers, and her ability to host games (horse races or festivities?). Moreover, we know from Ibn Said's account of Kanem that Dunama Dibalemi's Kanem included vast numbers of horses and control of various regions around Lake Chad, including gardens for sugar-cane. These areas were noted for giraffes, fowl, agricultural fertility and wealth, so it is likely that the Magira Aisa held land (worked by peasants and slaves?) in these regions, too.
Ultimately, it is perhaps perilous to attempt to connect this praise song with the historical conditions of Kanem in the second half of the 13th century. Nonetheless, there are some clues here that could be suggestive of the major role of a daughter of Dunama who helped keep the kingdom together in the divided, fractious times after the reign of her father. If, perhaps, she helped oversee the transition after the assassination of Kaday in c.1277, she played a major role as a military leader and within court politics. If, on the other hand, she was the mother of a king, then we must revise this theory. There is also a small chance that the Aisa remembered here is confused with the mother of Idris b. Ali, a powerful mai of the 16th century. If so, then the praise singer was mistakenly understood by Patterson. If the Magira in mention was the Aisa Killi, a Bulala princess and daughter of a Bulala royal named Dunama, then the anachronistic elements of the story are gone. But, this still doesn't explain the reference to Dunama Dibalemi in the song, the greatest King of 13th century Kanem and never, to our knowledge, a name used by the Bulala rulers.
Magira Mother of the King
Magira
You the cause of Bagirmi’s harrying
You the battle-axe, the whip of Wadai
You the leopard (that lies) in the cassia bush
You the lion (hungry until) forenoon with a cub beside it
Mother of the King, Magira
She is precious, precious as gold
(Daughter) of Kadabu Lafiam
Your land Ngalagati, the land of the bush-cow
To the man who likes you, give honey to drink
Him who despises you, kill, drag away and leave (unburied)
You, Magira, are sweeter than honey
You are whiter than milk
(Your face) brighter than the moon at its full
The river Magira yours; no one will oppress you
Yours the games at which are your daughters of four spans:
Yours the seventy dandals
At their games one thousand maidens attend
Magira you too are a Sultan
The fig tree in whose shade the play is held is yours
Yours the place of the games which are held every day
To the place of games the Ngijima, Zakkama and Babuman come, all three of them
You said “I shall give you the customary present”
Where is it? We have come for it
Yours Ngabala, Ngabala of the games
Today you have completed the acquisition of the seventh attribute of kingship
Yours Bantego, Tarmusuwama
And the city Njimi of the plains
Yours Firi Kimo and Firi Mayamiram
Yours Ngelgusuwa and Damaya town
The King the Protector of Islam was created from you
North, Air Damergo is yours
South, Barka Wal
There rain is first to fall, and does not cease until all other rains are over
Of the slaves Barka Gana and Barka Kura you are the owner, Magira
Yours Mogomi, and Gambaru
In the Acacia tree before your house the people pound the honey cakes
Mother of the King, Magira Aisa, daughter of Dunama Dabalemi
You are glowing embers of the town of Njimi
Aisa Dunama’s daughter was buried in their town Ngabala of the Deleh Palms
The Ngijima, Babuma and Zakkama have accomplished their purpose.