A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

Overview

The opening describes this attractive youth as the son of an evil spirit. His mother appears beside a stream as an old woman bathing. She gives his name to Daudawar-batso after that maiden helps to rub her back, while the other transformed seasonings refuse. The story does not give the mother a separate personal name or describe the youth with claws, a monstrous animal body or a devouring appetite.

He requires his visitors to enter separately and state both their own names and his. Five can identify their contributions to soup but fail his test. Daudawar-batso gives the answer Daskandarini and is invited inside, where a rug, clothes and golden slippers are provided for her. Her formerly contemptuous companions offer domestic service. His role is the name-testing host of this completed transformation tale; the ending concerns the maiden’s reversal of status rather than his defeat.

Son of evil spiritHandsome youthful appearanceMother reveals nameSeparate interviewsName controls admissionRewards successful visitor
01

Origins & earliest records

Malam Shaihu supplied written Hausa material, sometimes translated from Arabic manuscripts; Rattray transliterated and translated it into English. The author note dates the manuscript collection to 1907–1911.

02

Records & interpretation

Shaihu/Rattray, Hausa Folk-Lore, Customs, Proverbs, etc., Volume I (1913), tale 17, complete pp. 260–272; compiler methodology p. xii.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

  1. 01

    Hausa Folk-Lore, Customs, Proverbs, etc., Volume I

    Malam Shaihu, manuscript contributor; R. Sutherland Rattray, transliterator and translator · 1913

    Shaihu/Rattray, Hausa Folk-Lore, Customs, Proverbs, etc., Volume I (1913), tale 17, complete pp. 260–272; compiler methodology p. xii.

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.

  1. Bilingual manuscript tale; digitized primary OCRShaihu/Rattray — Daskandarini of Shaihu’s Name ContestResearch access: 2026-10-05
  2. Compiler methodologyAuthor’s NoteResearch access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

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