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Overview
Mai-Kasosowa is glossed as the one with the iron spear and also called Farin Ba-Larabe in Tremearne’s English account. He is placed among the grove spirits and associated with trembling fits. The descriptive notice is short: the representative dances carrying a knife or sword and waves it around the head.
The song calls him a killer of men and introduces figures and food connected with Zaria and Kano. Tremearne interprets the cakes in the song through Kano people mocking Zaria people, rather than reporting a separate monster-feeding episode. His translated ethnic title describes this spirit’s historical naming; it is not a claim that actual Arab people are supernatural or inherently violent.
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. 388; 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. 388; 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 — Mai-KasosowaResearch access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
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