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

Overview

Nana Mariyamu is usually named senior among the female Little Spots, though the accounts disagree about precedence. Tremearne records her as Jato’s wife, with some saying they have not yet lived together. Her performance appears with companions and imitates washing clothes, smelling them to check that they are clean, and laying them out to dry. The collector’s comparison with a customs official is commentary, separate from this described work sequence.

Two head-cloths are placed upon the head and touched to invite attention and gifts of sugar. Wiping the nose, sneezing and departure finish the representation. Her song names Mariyo or Mariyamu and praises the small spots as ornaments. Sore eyes and head colds are attributed to her in the notice. These are historical spirit explanations, while the exact washing, head-cloth signals and companion setting distinguish her from neighboring named figures.

Senior rank disputedWashes and smells clothesTwo head-cloths signal gifts
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 notice in chapter XXVII, printed pp. 376–377; complete 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

    Chapter XXVII, printed pp. 376–377; 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.

  1. Digitized historical ethnographic accountTremearne — Nana MariyamuResearch 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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