Duma
Overview
One might expect that life in the Flame Steppe, in constant fear of bushfire or the raw power of the majnun or ngoubou, would harden folk into bloodthirsty warriors and brutal survivalists. In the case of the Duma, however, this is hardly the case: hospitality and collaboration are the tenants of the savannah-dwellers, and arguably they catalyzed the broader unification of Ithara.
Since the dawn of their people, the Duma have refused the idea of inherent division. It is their belief that everything in the universe is interconnected through an unseen spiritual bond, originating from the power of a singular being who created everything: Mumbi, "one who molds". It is this power that lingers in all things, most strongly in the beings created Several clans of the Duma called the Flame Steppe their home, but these clans did not form geographical boundaries, instead living side-by-side. Each clan specialized in a particular field: bridge building, weaving, aether manipulation, iron forging, and others. When one clan's services were needed by another, it was treated as a business exchange with either bartering, currency, or favors; if circumstances were dire, then services would be rendered freely at the time, and a note made for future repayment in a form both parties could agree on. The Duma instilled a great sense of justice in one another, and these debts would always be repaid.
In modern times, while the individual clans have blended together, the Duma's ideals have .
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Achieng, Chausiku, Eshe, Mukami, Mwanaisha, Neema, Njeri, Nyambura, Subira, Upendo, Wanjiru, Zawadi, Zuri
Masculine names
Bakari, Faraji, Jengo, Kairuki, Kamau, Maina, Marijani, Mwangi, Omondi, Otieno, Rajabu, Uhuru, Zuberi
Unisex names
Bahati, Imani, Makena, Mosi, Tumaini
Family names
Baraka, Fadhili, Imamu, Jumanne, Kamau, Kariuki, Maina, Mwangi, Neema, Njeri, Shabani, Uhuru
Culture
Common Dress code
by Iga Oliwiak
Art & Architecture
by Brian Valeza
