The Ban of the Bori

Record summary

A. J. N. Tremearne's The Ban of the Bori examines Bori spirit-medium and possession traditions among Hausa-speaking communities. It is a particularly relevant lead for altered states because performances, illness narratives, named spirits and therapeutic settings are described together. The book documents a religious and healing system, not independently tested paranormal events. Researchers should separate observed behavior from participants' interpretations and examine how Islamic, colonial and local categories shaped the account. Comparisons with later work on Hausa Bori can clarify continuity and change.