Less succesful Fulani campaign against Bornu

Could have Bornu performed better against Fodio's aggressive Jihad in late 18th century ? From what I perceive, their Fulani subjects acted as the Trojan Horse that at first successfully captured their capital temporarily and routed their coordination. What if Bornu was more prepared to face the Fulani Jihad ? They had much better legitimacy over Islam in the region as well as extensive longevity of their presence and they also had their own pastoralist forces to meet Fulani cavalry, which successfully repulsed them IOTL.

And if Bornu was stronger against Fodio machination, what will it do to his movement and the region geopolitics ? I think Bornu will make for a more cohesive and effective state then Sokoto Caliphate and will later resist better against colonial expansion.
 
I'm kind of waiting for Jonathan Edelstein to see this and then provide an answer far more informed then I could provide. I'm sure he knows quite a bit on Fodio and Bornu.
 
I took a class on Islam in Africa and the focus was on Usman Dan Fodio, the Jihad of Umar Tal, and other Fulani business.

Thing is, this was in 2004-ish and I don't remember anything well enough to comment intelligently.
 
All I can say is that the Bornu Empire was steeply in decline by the time the Fulani jihad was in full flower. Even so, they put up a good fight with the help of a creative and disparate alliance. Although much of their territory was lost, they were not conquered by the Fulani.
Eventual civil war did Bornu no good.
The ultimate answer to a stronger Bornu no doubt lies further back than your POD.
 
I need to do some research before responding to this, and will be able to do so when I'm back in the US next week. I tend to agree that earlier reform in the Bornu empire was necessary, possibly an early advent of someone like Muhammad al-Amin al-Kanemi, but I don't know as much about the internal politics of the late empire as I should, and I'd like to do some checking before I make any suggestions as to how that might happen.
 
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