Jobay

The Jobay people are a hard-working, tradition-driven culture who live on the island of Jobaykal. They are known for their expertise in farming a variety of crops, including coffee, sugar, tea, and tobacco - commodities that play a vital part in the economy of their own island and that of the greater continent of Albagar. Jobay, a beautiful and nuanced language, is heard throughout the fields they occupy.
They take great pride in their cultivation and harvesting, roles they have filled for generations, although the meaning of their labour has shifted as in recent years, the Luziama of Masatoyahi have loomed over their commercial enterprise and largely dominate the terms of work which more often than not tend to be exploitative, owing in equal parts to basic greed, and the fact the Jobay hold diminished social status as an ethnic group in the eyes of their masters. Above all, it is the powerful Ai̯hoi̯ Trading Company, owned by Luziama merchants, that pulls the strings, although a small handful of Jobay do work independently for themselves, and a few even own their own plantations. Sad to say, even these native owners have learned their lessons well from the Luziama, and are every bit as fond of cutting corners where profits are concerned.
The Jobay's unique customs are deeply intertwined with their environment. The Bemban Harvest Festival, where the entire community gathers to celebrate the annual rice yield, highlights their agrarian roots and their bond with the land. This festival is filled with folk dances, traditional music, and games, a vibrant celebration of communal cohesion and a bountiful harvest.
The culture has a strong sense of community and places a high value on following the old ways their ancestors laid down. They are for this reason a migratory culture, moving with the seasons to follow the best conditions for their crops to the extent they are able within the contracts they have entered. They follow Neʻā Woi̯, the standard religion of Albagar, but are more prone to hold rituals outside than their city-dwelling companions are, in keeping with tradition.
The Sacred Peaks, found in the island's interior, are considered the dwelling place of their gods, and pilgrimages to these mountain tops are a common spiritual practice. The annual Samban Ancestral Rites is a grand ceremony where the Jobay pay respects to their departed ancestors, with traditional music and dance that last from dusk till dawn.
Though the Jobay hold reasonably steadfastly to the old ways, but a neighbouring minority in the Bong'aa region, the Banong, a small tribe but one of increasing importance due to its offshore ties, have introduced a competing faith, the Green Mountain Chapter of the Ascended faith, which is gaining popularity.
Native cuisine is a delightful blend of land and sea, with a strong reliance on locally sourced produce and seafood. Their staple foods include root vegetables, especially Jovani tubers, along with the catch of the day. Jobay meals are typically flavored with Shika herbs and spiced up with Uma peppers, both endemic to the region.
Their traditional drink, Moik Brew, fermented from Jovani tubers, is enjoyed at gatherings and celebrations, often served in Nambu shells, an emblem of their close relationship with the sea.