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Ibn Khallikan: Wafayat al-A'yan
(The death of the Notables) (d1282) from Irbil Iraq
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Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Ibrahim Abu ‘l-Abbas Shams al-Din al-Barmaki al-Irbili al-Shafi’i, ibn Khallikan (1211 – 1282) was a 13th century Shafi'i Islamic scholar who compiled the biographical encyclopedia of Muslim scholars, Wafayat al-A’yan wa-Anba Abna az-Zaman (Deaths of Eminent Men and History of the Sons of the Epoch-1274). Ibn Khallikan was born in Erbil (1211). He finally got the position of chief judge in Damascus. His story of Kafur the black ruler of Egypt is placed here but only very indirectly contributes to East African History.

Taken from: Ibn Khallikan's Biographical Dictionary by Ibn Khallikan; also called Khalliqan

Ibn Khallkan wrote on Kafur the Black ruler of Egypt. Because it is unknown if Kafur was originally from East Africa we do not study him exhaustively. Only this short mention is given.

Ibn-Khallikan tells of a certain very wealthy noble named Tabataba who was in the habit of sending gifts of sweetmeats to his friends. Kafur was especially favored; to him he would dispatch two vases of the choicest delicacies every other day, together with a cake that was folded up in a napkin and carefully sealed.
An enemy of the nobleman wrote to Kafur telling him that while the gift of the sweetmeats was proper, the cake was intended as a thrust at Kafur's post. Hearing of this and fearing a plot to ruin him, Tabataba galloped to Kafur's palace to assure Kafur that the cake had been baked by his own daughter as a tribute of purely religious motive and not out of a feeling of superiority.
"If, however," continued the nobleman, "Your Majesty wishes it discontinued, I shall do so."
"By no means," replied Kafur. "From this time on, I shall eat no other." Calling his chamberlain, Kafur made him fetch a magnificent necklace, which was sent off by a slave to Tabataba's daughter.

Kafur Al-Ikhshidi (1)
Abu 'l-Misk (the father-of musk) Kafur (camphor) was the son of Abd Allah and bore the surname of al-Ikhshidi (enfranchised slave of al-Ikhschid). .... He had been possessed as a slave by a native of Old Cairo, but, in the year 312 (AD924-925), he was sold to Mahmud Ibn Wahb Ibn Abbas Bakr Muhammad Ibn Toghj al-Ikhshid, .... . He then rose into such favour with al-Ikhschid that the latter appointed him atabek (guardian) of his two sons. When al-Ikhschid died, (AD946) his eldest son, Abu ‘l-Kasim Anjur (praised), obtained the government of Egypt and Syria from the Khalif ar-Radi, who issued a written instrument to that effect. Kafur continued to administer the state with great ability till the death of Anujur. This event took place on Saturday, the 8th-some say the seventh-of Zu l-Kaada, AH 319 (Dec. AD 960); his body was transported to Jerusalem and interred near that of his father, he was born at Damascus on Thursday, the 9th of  Zu l-Hija, AH 319 (Dec, AD934). His brother Abu l-Hassan Ali succeeded to the throne; in this prince’s reign the Greeks took Aleppo (2), Missisa (3), Tarsus (4), and all that territory, whilst Kafur continued to act as his faithful guardian and the deputy of his power. Ali died on the 11th of Muharram, AH 355 (Jan AD966); he was born at old Cairo on Tuesday, the 25th of Safar, AH 326 (January AD938). From this epoch, Kafur assumed the uncontrolled government of the empire, and when advised to proclaim the son of Abu l-Hassan Ali, he answered that so young a boy was not fit to reign. He then rode out escorted by spearmen, and exhibited the pelisses of investiture which has been sent to him from Irak; he published also a document conferring on him an honorary title, and at length, on Tuesday, the 10th of Safar, AH 355 (Feb AD966), he rode out wearing these pelisses. Abu l-Fadl Jaafar Ibn al-Furat (5) served him in the capacity of vizier. Kafur loved the society of virtuous men, and treated them with marked honour. He was a negro of a deep black colour, with a smooth shining skin. It has been delivered down that al-Ikhschid purchased him for eighteen pieces of gold.
(Here then follows a list of anecdotes which I will not repeat)
The anecdotes told  of Kafur are very numberous: having obtained possession of the sovereign authority after a series of occurrences too long to relate, he continued to hold it till his death. This event took place at Old Cairo, on Tuesday, the 20th of the first Jumada, AH 356 (May AD967); but some say that he died on Wednesday, and others place his death in the year 355 or 357; this last date is given by al-Kudai (6) in his work, the Khitat, and al-Farghani indicates the same date in his History. Kafur was buried in the lesser Karafa, and his tomb is a well known object in that cemetery. His reign did not continue long, as may be perceived, since it commenced on the death of Ali Ibn al-Ikhschid. His dominion extended not only over Egypt, but Syria also, and public prayers were offered up for him from the pulpits of Mekka, Hijaz, Egypt, and the cities of Syria, including Damascus, Aleppo (2), Antioch, Tarsus (4), and al-Missisa (3). According to al-Farghani, in his History, he died at the age of 65 years. Kafur ruled with justness and mildness; on his death, contestations arose respecting the choice of a successor, but it was at length unanimously decided that the son of Abu l-Hassan Ali Ibn al-Ikhshid should be raised to the throne. Kafur reigned two years, two months, and twenty three days. On Friday, the 23rd of the first Jumada, AH357 (April AD 968), public prayers were offered up for Abu l-Fawaris Ahmad Ibn Ali Ibn al-Ikhshid.

(during a quarrel in the family of the Caliph).... named Abdar-Rahman Ibn al-Hakam, and brother to Marwan Ibn al-Hakam, then addressed him in these terms: Moawia (7) had you found none but negroes (Zenj) to adopt, you would have taken them for members of your family and outnumbered us by (an act of) meanness and degradation....