The "Song to the Galadima" in J.R. Patterson's Kanuri Songs can more easily be connected with a known galadima who ruled from Nguru in the early 18th century. Using a girgam of galadimas published in H.R. Palmer's Gazetteer of Bornu Province, we know that a galadima named Dunama Aisatami held the office for about 3 years. Using the regnal lengths of all the previous tenants of the office since its foundation under the Sayfawa mai Umar b. Idris (r. 1619-1639), we can tell that Dunama Aisatami held the post sometime in the early 1700s. If we make the assumption that the position of galadima was instituted in the beginning of Umar b. Idris's reign, then Dunama Aisatami may have began to serve sometime in c.1706-1717.
Knowing from the girgam that Dunama Aisatami only held the post for 3 years, one can see how the praise song, by its very nature, must have embellished and exaggerated the accomplishments of some of the elites. From what is known from Palmer and Patterson, Dunama gained the position in a somewhat unusual manner. His father, Iruma, had refused the position and died. His son, Dunama, paid the fee for his late father to occupy the position nominally before becoming galadima himself. Apparently, if the praise song is reliable, he occupied the important position long enough to defend Borno's western borders, impose Islam on pagans, and engage in valiant warrior behavior. According to Patterson's notes, Dunama Aisatu's mother was also the princess of Hadija, one of Borno's western dependencies, and he was related to the ruling family in Muniyo, too. This makes sense as the post of galadima was to defend and oversee Borno's western borderlands, and marriage alliances with local dynasties supported by Borno would have been essential to create buffer states and assert Borno's economic and political interests across the region.
Indeed, the significance of the galadima is best indicated by the following line, "When the Galadima comes to the capital, eleven of the Birni titles cease to exist." The office was so central to the state that its occupant was like second after the mai in Gazargamo. Perhaps it is an inappropriate analogy, but the galadima was like a viceroy whose responsibilities were important enough to warrant a brick palace structure at Nguru. Keeping in mind the growing economic importance of Hausaland, one can also see the galadima being essential for providing security for trade that connected the Hausa states with Borno, especially for the trade in salt, natron, horses, leather, textiles, slaves, and kola nuts.
Galadima Dunama
Vulture of Nguru town
Who drives away the birds of Bornu
Dunama son of Magira whose father was Mala
You are easier to withstand than the swoops of the white hawk
Outside the capital you are a valiant warrior but a meek man in the town
When the Galadima comes to the capital,
Eleven of the Birni titles cease to exist
When anyone says you are liberal,
Your liberality is the polished spear
Rather than the Nuguruma should drive me in front of him
Better than seven hippopotami should drive me in front of them
Galadima Dunama
Nguti the town of your slaves
During your attack on the town which lasted from the forenoon to the afternoon,
You made Muslim converts even of the pagans of Garmangal
You fought and conquered it and gave it to your mother
Kaiuri and Lefiya Loiloi
Kaigama Dunama, that husband of mine (his wife says)
is no husband to look after his wife and family,
he is a man to bear a polished spear
I love you only for what you give me
(When you go to war) either I become a beggar, or I receive presents
Or I put white ants in your nose
Your wiles are like the wiles of a wry-necked calabash water-bottle
Don’t forget your sly tricks
If you forget your whiles the jackal will fall upon the jujube fruit
Galadima Dunama son of Aisata daughter of the princess Mangu
(The Galadima) is a nephew of Zainaba daughter of the ruler of Muniyo
Dunama, you are like a ball of fused metal, like corn mixed with pebbles
A man whose teeth are not made of iron cannot overcome you
Fear makes a man be wounded in the back
He is a brave man who receives his wounds in the front of the body
You Galadima Dunama, prevented the people of the town of Ngutuwa from saying their morning prayers
You burnt Garamgalga and made its inhabitants captives
God has granted you all your desires
Gura Zau Zau’s song is a pleasant one
Galadima my master has dismissed me with a present of twelve slave maidens and twelve slave youths all of six spans.