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Overview
Mallam Mushe is the last of the Little Spots listed in Tremearne’s chapter. The notice calls him little Mallam Mushe and explains that the title is used playfully. As with several neighboring spirits, sore eyes and smallpox are attributed to him. The chapter gives no named narrator or complete attack episode for this brief notice, so its evidence is not expanded into a universal explanation of illness.
His representation repeats the Koran aloud while reading from a prayer-board, as children do, and then prays. This reading differs from Ismaila’s imaginary book and from Essiyako’s spear presentation, even though all occur in the same scholar group. No independent song is supplied here. The actual recitation and concluding prayer give the notice its specific identity without inventing extra magical writing or an otherwise unrecorded origin story.
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 notice in chapter XXVII, printed pp. 381; complete chapter 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
Chapter XXVII, printed pp. 381; complete spirit notice and ritual representation.
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 — Mallam MusheResearch access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
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