Human representatives of Mai-Lema’s companions including Yaura in photograph55, 1914
The source caption names Yaura among Mai-Lema’s companions in the canopy group. The picture documents their human representation together; it does not by itself establish an independent physical appearance for the gambling spirit.
Overview
Yaura is the patron spirit of gamblers named Yan Chacha or Yan Gujiya. Tremearne associates him with their good or bad fortune and records a performance that moves around the ring before sitting and flicking fingers as though gambling with cowries. He also joins Mai-Lema beneath the Tunis canopy. These details locate both his patronage and representation without inventing a particular winning wager.
The song gives Yaura as a childhood name and another registered name, Baba-da-Rai Yam Musa, while naming friends including Musan Gaya and Abubakar. The following comment says Musan Gaya seems to have merged into Yaura and is also confused with Mallam Ali Geshe. Those identities remain disputed rather than becoming separate duplicate profiles. Yaura’s visible gambling gestures and the explicitly named fortune role are the clearest evidence of this notice.
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 XXVI, printed pp. 367–368; full 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 XXVI, printed pp. 367–368; complete spirit notice, song and attributed relationships.
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 — YauraResearch access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
Historical ritual performance photographHuman representatives of Mai-Lema’s companions including Yaura in photograph55, 1914
The source caption names Yaura among Mai-Lema’s companions in the canopy group. The picture documents their human representation together; it does not by itself establish an independent physical appearance for the gambling spirit.