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Overview

Mai-Gangaddi is the Nodding One, also called Sarikin Barchi, ruler of sleep. Tremearne says the representation is nearly always female and accordingly questions the masculine title. Rather than circling the ring, she sits down and begins spinning, but soon lets her head fall to either side. Other participants can briefly wake her by touching her or speaking to her, after which the interrupted work and nodding define her performance.

She does not ordinarily leave the ring by herself. At the appropriate time a cotton thread is held out; seeing it, she sneezes and departs. The song first describes sleep preventing her from spinning and sitting properly, then warns her that a rival wife is approaching and that she should sit up and work. Tremearne records sleeping sickness as attributed to the spirit; the song’s domestic warning and the performance are historical evidence, rather than a medical explanation of that disease.

Interrupted spinningHead falls to either sideCotton thread signals departure
01

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.

02

Records & interpretation

Complete selected spirit notice in chapter XXIII, printed pp. 338–339; full chapter read.

Selected bibliography

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

  1. 01

    The Ban of the Bori: Demons and Demon-Dancing in West and North Africa

    A. J. N. Tremearne, collector and colonial-era interpreter · 1914

    XXIII. Bori—the Black Spirits, printed pp. 338–339; historical 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.

  1. Digitized historical ethnographic accountTremearne — Mai-GangaddiResearch 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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