Kukawa is a town and Local Government Area located in the northeastern Nigerian state of Borno, situated near Lake Chad. It was originally founded in the early 19th century as Kuka by the religious scholar and military leader Muhammad al-Amin al-Kanemi.
The town holds historical significance as it served as the capital of the Kanem–Bornu Empire from 1846 to 1893. It remains a notable site within the region due to its imperial history and geographic proximity to the lake.