Gnarilde
Trending more slender and smaller than the Catfolk ethnic groups of Eastern Austrurica, the Gnarilde are the smallest known. Gnarilde typically have a reddish tan or sandy toned fur, though some groups have extensive black spots and stripes. Most have black ear tufts which droop with advancing age.
While this ethnic group is presented as monolithic, it is a loosely associated series of tribes. Each may have different conventions and cultural norms that the other tribes find heretical or foolish
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Masculine names
Other names
Day names
Ordinal names
Some Gnarilde may name their daughters in the following order: Sira (1st), Coumba (2nd), Fenda (3rd), Taco (4th), Dado (5th), Niatou (6th). The seventh daughter starts back at the top of the list, being named Sira like the first.
Gnarilde sons are named: Soma (1st), Samba (2nd), Demba (3rd), Daby (4th), Paté (5th) and Yoxo (6th). Again, the seventh son is named Soma, like the first, the eigth is Samba, like the second, and so on.
Twins are so important, for good or ill, that they interrupt this ordinal naming scheme when they come into a family. Most tribes have special predefined names for each twin, as well as special names for the children born after the twins
Other names
While many tribes will typically use the afforementioned conventions, several others are common yet vary from tribe to tribe. Thse could include Birth Circumstances, Significant Events, Location of Birth, Family Occupation, Spritual association or Reincarnation of a relative.Culture
Culture and cultural heritage
While most tribe members are not intensely religious, and the spiritual traditions far less concrete than Human ones often are, most tribes' Shaman will hold a ceremony or other gathering within the "temple" they maintain once per week. Attendance is not socially required, but many attend anyway.
Shared customary codes and values
Among most tribes of the Gnarilde, tribal governance is communal, though it can vary with environmental circumstances. Most Gnarilde tribes have become sedentary over time, and as such wealthier landowners have taken some manner of dominance.
Art & Architecture
Architecture
Squares and right angles are popular in designs.
Music
Gnarilde music has a single rhythm with a slow beat. It is quiet, with no harmony. It has a complex melody with a high pitch in a major key. Usually, it has a booming timbre. It is not played in public settings. being seen as an intensely private thing.
Coming of Age Rites
A week after the birth of an infant, the Gnarilde hold a name-giving ceremony. A marabout leads prayers during the ceremony, shaves the infant's head, and announces the name of the child for the first time.
Puberty rites are very significant in the lives of the Gnarilde, both male and female. It is the most important rite of passage, for one cannot attain adulthood or marry without it. For boys the rite is held about once every five years and includes novices from six to thirteen years old, who may be in a group of thirty to forty-five boys. Boys are kept secluded for six to eight weeks of instruction.
Girls are kept in smaller groups, and the ceremonies occur more frequently. The girls stay secluded for ten days to two weeks. During this time, they are taught Gnarilde values and how to work together as a group.
Marriage for a Gnarilde girl may begin with her betrothal at birth to a boy who may be as old as twelve. The preferred marriage arrangement is for a betrothal between a boy and his mother's brother's daughter. Prior to marriage, the suitor makes several payments of a bride price (including money, kola nuts, salt, and some livestock) to the parents of the prospective bride.
Funerary and Memorial customs
A corpse is ritually bathed and buried on its right side, head facing east, feet to the north. A fence is built around the grave to protect it from animals; sticks are put over the hole. During the next forty-five days, three mortuary ceremonies are held at which oil cakes and kola nuts are distributed to those attending.
Common Taboos
There are few taboos which are common between tribes, but theree are most commonly so. The playing of music, as stated previously, is seen as intensely personal. It is expressly forbidden in most tribes to play any traditional music outside of a private setting. Some younger Gnari will perform music from other cultural groups, such as the colonists in the coastal regions, arguing that it is only their own music that is private
Intermarrying with other races is in poor taste at best, if not a sign of personal weakness or mental illness at worst. Also, it is very poor manners for an individual who is spiritually of one gender to socialize in any capacity with one of the opposite gender. Some few who are seen as of multiple or fluid gender can sometimes be permitted freedom in this, but there may be tribal restrictions or requirements.
Ideals
Relationship Ideals
The social organization of the Gnarilde is based on an ancient caste (class) system into which members are born. A Gnarilde can never change the caste-status into which he or she is born. There is rarely marriage between individuals of different castes. In an average village, however, the differences in wealth or status among the castes is barely visible. The size of the family is often more of an indication of wealth; small families with few children and few extended family members are thought of as poor and unfortunate.
Family Life
When the Gnarilde encounter a family member or friend, an extensive ritual exchange of formal greeting questions can take up to a minute. They might say, "Peace be with you," "Is your life peaceful?", "How is everything going?", "Are your family members in good health?", "How is your father?", or "Is the weather treating your crops well?" The questions go back and forth and may end with praises to the Gods. Even if one is not feeling well or if things are not going well, the answers are usually positive. It is considered very bad manners not to engage in the lengthy greeting exchange.
If a guest drops by at mealtime, he or she will surely be invited to share the meal. Those who have been blessed with wealth are expected to share some of theirs with others.
The Gnarilde consider large families to be important. A large compound with brothers and their wives will always be bustling with family members of several generations and children of many ages. The Gnarilde practice polygyny (multiple wives), and tradition permits men to take up to four wives. The expensive bride price and the fact that society requires that all wives be provided for equally means that only prosperous men can afford several wives.
Women are always busy with some kind of work, while it is common to see men sitting under a tree in the village square, chatting with other men and having a smoke and some tea. The household heads have the authority to make all important decisions, although women wield significant power behind the scenes.
Comments