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

Overview

Yal Kunama is Daughter of the Scorpion. Some informants identify her with Nana Ayesha, while Tremearne thinks that identification incorrect. The notice gives her a particular association with sharp pricking pains like scorpion bites, and the song repeatedly says that she can sting. The collector’s questions about pimples or boils are diagnostic interpretations rather than additional narrated forms.

Her performance moves around, sits and claps, then opens and closes the hands to imitate the scorpion’s movements. Hands are smoothed over the body before a sneeze and departure. Sweets are the stated offering. These movements and the stinging song support a named scorpion-associated role, while the disputed identification stays visible and no zoological species or literal performer-to-scorpion transformation is invented.

Stinging praiseOpens and closes handsDisputed Nana Ayesha correspondence
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. 379; 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. 379; 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 — Yal KunamaResearch 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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