The decline continued under Umar's sons, and in 1894 Rabih az-Zubayr, leading an invading army from eastern Sudan, conquered Borno.

[4] Salih the Muhammadu al-Amin’s elder son with his first wife Yamba and Abubakar (Garba), whom carved out of a unique legacy within the Kanem-Bornu Empire, were distinct from the path of royal ascension.

While their brother, Shehu Abd ar-Rahman, pursued roles tied to the throne, Abubakar dedicated his life to Islamic scholarship, earning recognition as a respected scholar.

In Borno, the claim to the throne similarly stems from the exclusive designation of Shehu Umar I, firmly establishing the hereditary line.

Unlike his father, Mallam Kura became entangled in palace intrigues, which eventually led to his departure from Kukawa, the then political and cultural heart of the Kanem-Bornu Empire to Takai local government area of Kano State.