Bornu is a word that may not be familiar to many people, but it does have synonyms that are more common. Some of these synonyms include Bornu Empire, Kingdom of Bornu, Bornu State, and Kanem-Bornu Empire. All of these refer to the historic empire that existed in what is now northeastern Nigeria, Chad, and Niger from the 14th to the 19th century. Other synonyms related to this region may include the Lake Chad Basin, Sahel region, or even West Africa. Understanding the various terms used to describe this region and its history can help to better understand the rich culture and heritage of this part of the world.