The Kanuri are an African ethnic group living in northeastern Nigeria in the state of Bornu. They are often called Beri Beri (a name originating from Hausa). The Nigerien census of 1988 estimated 320,000 living in Niger.

They speak the Kanuri language, a member of the Nilo-Saharan language family. Other countries where Kanuri language is spoken include parts of Niger, Cameroon, and Sudan. it is also spoken widely in Chad.