A holder of Diploma in Local Government Administration, the present Shettima Kanuribe of Borno, Shettima Kaami, was born in Kukawa in 1952. His father’s name is Mala Duna Shettima, while his mother is Yagana Gambo. Shettima Kaami’s given name or ‘su fulaibe’ is Ibrahim. He is the name sake of the 7th Shettima Kanuribe of Borno.
He started his primary education in Konduga in 1960. He was however transferred to Yerwa Senior Primary School in 1964, where he completed his primary education in 1966, thus obtaining the School Leaving Certificate.
Shortly after his primary education he took up appointment in the Veterinary Department of the Borno Native Authority (Borno N.A.) where he worked from 1967 to 1974. He had also served in the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council as a typist from 1978 to 3rd July 2002. On 4th July 2002, he was appointment the District of Gwange. His investiture as District Head took place on 17th of the same month; and he maintains his position as the District Head of Gwange to date.
Shettima Kaami was turbaned as Shettima Kanuri on 13th May 2009. Before his appointment as Shettima Kanuribe, he had held the traditional title of Mala Kaka from 6th August 1989 to 12th May 2009.
Explaining the functions Shettima Kanuribe, Shettima Kaami said, ‘’he is the head of all traditional matters in the Shehu’s Palace. Putting this in Kanuri, he said, ‘’awo adawaga wuzuna suro Shehuribe sammabe shima kurawo.’’ In addition, he said the Shettima Kanuribe is the head of the Traditional Kingmakers. On the function of Mala Kaka, he said ‘’Mala Kaka’s function is to assist Shettima Kanuribe in his responsibilities in the palace.’’
Shettima Kaami explained that the title of Shettima Kanuri originated in Kukawa during the reign of Shehu Umar Ibn Muhammad El-Kanemi, son of the the first Shehu of Borno, Sheikh Muhammad El-Amin El-Kanemi, popularly known as Shehu Laminu.
Since its inception in Kukawa , the title has been held by twelve persons as follows:
1. Shettima Ibrahim (held the post in Kukawa).
2. Shettima Madu Gajimi (held the post in Kukawa).
3. Shettima Mala Fantami (held the post in Kukawa).
4. Shettima Madu Aisatami (held the post in Kukawa).
5. Shettima Awali (held the post in Dikwa under Rabeh ).
6. Shettima Madu Lefami (held the post in Dikwa and Maiduguri).
7. Shettima Kaami (held the post in Dikwa and Maiduguri. In Dikwa, he was a District Head as well as the Shettima Kanuri, before his transfer to Maiduguri, where he became the Shettima Kanuribe, as well as District Head of Guzamala).
8. Shettima Ibrahim Abbaram (held the post in Dikwa and Maiduguri. When Shettima Kaami, his brother, died in 1936, he was transferred to Maiduguri as Shettima Kanuribe, where he also became the District Head of Yerwa. He also became the Waziri of Borno in 1938).
9. Shettima Mastafa (held the post in Maiduguri).
10. Shettima Abubakar Ibrahim (held the post in Maiduguri).
11. Shettima Mamman Waziri (held the post in Maiduguri).
12. Shettima Kaami (the present Shettima).


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