A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.
Overview
Biri or Birri is the monkey spirit in Tremearne’s grove chapter. The report associates him with lice and damage to crops unless propitiated. Those are attributed beliefs; the passage does not identify a monkey species or an independently verified mechanism for either effect.
His representative squats on the haunches and, when asked who he is, sneezes and withdraws. The song calls the young monkey cunning and compares fingers to a rake used for stealing. This is a short distinctive animal representation and agricultural association, rather than a complete named adventure. The published caption places the role among the photographed performers, but this profile does not claim independent species authentication from that photograph.
Origins & earliest records
A. J. N. Tremearne combines interviews and descriptions of bori performances with comparative interpretation. These selected notices do not consistently name individual speakers; printed attributes are distinguished from his conjectures.
Records & interpretation
Complete selected spirit notice in chapter XXVIII, printed pp. 389; adjoining chapter context read.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
The Ban of the Bori: Demons and Demon-Dancing in West and North Africa
XXVIII. Spirits of the Forest, Waters and Grove, pp. 389; ritual representation and attributed explanation.
Family & connections
A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Digitized historical ethnographic accountTremearne — BiriResearch access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.