African Kith - Families

By Green ()

Posted here with express written permission from Green


There are four major cultural divisions along which the kizimwi tend to make their distinctions. There are the Yoruba, Fon, Soninke, and Nyanga people. Each group sprouts their own kizimwi. Each group has their own leaders, storytellers, shamans, and warriors. Thus, while some kizimwi may seem alike, they are completely different in outlook and temperament. Each cultural division is composed of one or more families, which roughly correspond to Kithain kith.

Yoruba

Fon

Soninke - Fasa

Nyanga


Yoruba

The Yoruba families of West Africa believe themselves to be descendents of the gods who created the universe, earth, and human beings. When their gods came to Ife (Earth), they stayed shortly, but not before making and raising children with the mortals. The results are the Olorun, Orunmila, Obatala, and Olokun. For more information, look up the story on the creation of the universe, Ife, and human beings.

Society: The Yoruba families are probably the most organized the Kithain will encounter. The families often live together in a single tribe, and they delegate duties amongst themselves almost like the noble courts of the Western fae. Each tribe is ruled by a king, and the most powerful king is the one to whom the others defer in times of crisis. This king is not decided by election or heredity. Instead, he is picked from the best representatives of the families. Sometimes, they even choose a woman or a young man from non-traditional families, but the tendency is for older, male Olorun kizimwi to be king among kings. When the king is chosen, he moves to the city of Ife, from where he watches over the tribes and makes decisions for the rest of his life. The king makes laws, on advisement by a board of seers, which affect all the tribes in the kingdom. Although mortals are not bound by these laws, they tend to follow them out of respect for their tribal kings.

Gold is an important commodity for the Yoruba fae. It is believed to be the element which made possible the creation of Ife, the earth. It is a symbol of the divine unity which marked the beginning of creation. At certain places, links called Golden Chains bridge the gap between Ife and the sky-home. It is here where the kizimwi gather among themselves and take care of supernatural matters.

Olorun

Descended from Olorun, the sky god and ruler of the heavens, the Olorun exemplify divine command. Usually, the king which rules in Ife comes from this family. They are generally radiant and powerfully built, with hair, eyes, and skin being the colors of the sky. Even for their more human-looking members, they have traces of the sky, either in their dress or bearing. A few of them resemble sidhe with pale blue hair and white eyes. Still others are midnight black with flaming orange hair and eyes which change colors at dusk. All have an unearthly air which belies their true nature.

Olorun tend to view people as little children who still have a lot of growing up to do. They are generally benevolent towards mortals, for they see no joy in subjugating a people who are powerless to begin with. This condescending attitude also extends toward the other Yoruba families. They feel themselves responsible for the care of humans and the kizimwi. Surprisingly, they are flexible and just creatures, out of habit if not out of nature. They believe the use of magic or manipulation to influence people is beneath their semi-divine status. Thus, they never use the Sovereign Art.

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Orunmila

Orunmila is said to be the prophet of the gods, who is able to predict the future. The Orunmila are the seers and visionaries of the Yoruba families. They tend to have distinguished eyes that reflect their deep knowledge. They seem to be always focused on something far away.

The Orunmila like people, but they believe the humans to be ignorant. They are usually benevolent towards the Obatala, who are humanity's allies. They like the Olorum as well, but they don't share the same attitude towards people. Orunmila prefer to give humans the tools they need to keep their independence. Not-so-shockingly, the Orunmila are reserved, introspective, and sagely beings. However, they are fiercely protective of their independence and those of others. They consider it more worthy for people to stand on their own and make their own way than to have others do it for them. Seemingly silent Orunmila can become extremely vocal when the question of freedom is asked.

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Obatala

Obatala believe themselves to be descended from the god who invented Ife and human beings. They are the guides and protectors of humanity, and vehemently so. Although the Olorun may rule in the sky-home, on Ife it is the Obatala who receive the praise of mortals. Humans look to their example of strength, determination, valiance, and caring. The Obatala, strangely enough, espouse the most human virtues. They are the most human-looking of the Yoruba families. They tend to have powerful, muscular bodies, and they smile a lot.

The Obatala feel a kinship and love for humans which other fae cannot understand. They consider humans their equals, almost like cosmic siblings. They believe that humans are by design supposed to be kind, intelligent, and virtuous, but that their creator, Obatala, made them imperfect in his drunkenness. So, to make up for humankind's shortcomings, they vowed to look over them and protect them.

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Olokun

The Olokun are descendents of the sea goddess who initially opposed Obatala and the creation of Ife, which encroached on her kingdom. Wishing to equal Obatala, she made her own beings out of the sea. The result were the Olokun. They are graceful and surprisingly strong-bodied people. Most Olokun are of the colors of the sea: turquoise, dark blue, green, and white. Often, these colors flow together and make a subtle pattern.

Olokun are a lot like their element. Placid and aloof, but at times almost violent in temper. They are often more dangerous than they seem because beneath the surface are many uncharted depths. The Olokun are nominally friendly toward the other Yoruba families. They remember the shame that they had done their mother, and while the goddess may forgive them, her children will not. They find humans to be a tolerable nuisance at best, and they, more than the other families, like to have their own separate communities away from the inquisitive eyes of humans.

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Fon

Neighbors and enemies of the Yoruba families, the Fon families believe themselves to be descended from gods as well. For more information, find sources on the quarrel between Sagbata and Sogbo.

Society: The Fon families are not as organized as their Yoruba counterparts. They too live in tribes, but there is no centralized government. They know how it would be a mistake for them to let one rule over the other. Thus, each tribe has its own chief, who can be from either family. The distinction seems to be made more along the lines of personal ability. Generally, this means the Sagbata, but occasionally the Sogbo are chosen for their ability to bring good fortune.

Sagbata

Sagbata believe themselves descendant from the sun god of the same name. They believe that he willingly went to Earth after a quarrel with his younger brother, Sogbo, taking his inheritance with him. On Earth, he lived with people and also made children by them, who became the Sagbata family. Sagbata can be easily distinguished by their sunny demeanor; they are warm and generous people, and generally kind. Like the sun, they are steadfast and reliable, as well as passionate. They often have skin, eyes, and hair tinged with orange, red, or yellow. They are often very powerfully built, for the road to Earth was a hard one.

The Sagbata are technically enemies with the Yoruba families. They like humans, but they do not hold the Obatala view of equality. Nevertheless, they assist people when their help is requested. They generally tolerate the Sogba, but they quarrel with them from time to time over their treatment of humans.

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Sogbo

The Sogbo are descended from the god of rain, storms, and lightning. They tend to resemble those elements. Most are changeable like the lightning they wield. They are capricious and unpredictable, and often very dangerous when their immense pride is injured. Like their solar brethren, they are also passionate, but theirs is more flashy than the Sagbata. They even look like the storm, ranging from light gray to midnight black in complexion. Their eyes are usually dark, and they crackle with electricity.

Sogbo are very dualistic when it comes to humans. On the one hand, they can like their company and treat them as equals. On the other hand, they can be very whimsical, demanding worship and punishing those humans who displease them. They also like to play pranks on people. They genuinely hate the Yoruba families, and sometimes they go out of their way to spite them.

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Soninke

Fasa

There is only one family that comes from the Soninke culture, and that is the noble and brave Fasa. The Fasa believe that they are descended from Wagadu, the goddess who created them and human beings. Wagadu disappears each time her children succumb to a certain vice, changing her name and direction upon her reappearance. First, she faced north as "beautiful Wagadu;" she disappeared when her children became vain. Then, she faced west as Dierra, bringing the songs of heroes. When her children became deceptive, she disappeared again. She returned facing east as Agada, bringing gold and pearls, until her children became greedy. She came back again, facing south, as Silla, and with her came writing. Then her children became quarrelsome. The Fasa search for her; they believe that her beauty will shine so radiantly that they'd never lose her again. Some say that when she returns, Wagadu will be in each man's heart and in each woman's womb. Never more, they believe, would there be death or despair. Find the myth of Gassire's lute for more information.

The Fasa make their roots in Faraka, which is their spiritual and governmental center. They are also ruled by a king, to whom the others show the utmost respect. There, a temple sits as a byway between Earth and the sky-home. They are usually made of earth, wood, or stone, which they believe to be sacred elements. Wagadu gains her strength from these, as well as in the imagination of human beings. They hold the gifts of Wagadu in high regard: songs of heroes, gold and pearls, and writing. Their ceremonies tend to be displays of wealth and poetry.

The Fasa look like they descend from Wagadu. They are beautiful, athletic, and regal. Their faces have the silent power of the greatest of kings. They usually have dark complexions with intense, deep-set eyes. They have powerful cheek bones, broad shoulders, and muscular bodies. They do not see the need to show off themselves with fancy clothes, so they wear traditional tribal garb of fine quality.

Fasa like those who uphold their standards of honor. They are fearless and skilled in battle, but they are also temperate. They like to test their skills in combat with those of equal station. They are religiously devoted to Wagadu. Their devotion culminates in an almost unshakable code of ethics. For Wagadu, they swore to protect humanity from itself and outside forces.

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Nyanga

The Nyanga are peaceful people who respect all living things. The Nyanga fae trace their beginnings to a hero named Mwimdo, renowned for his remarkable intelligence and devotion to his tribe. The myth of Mwindo tells the details of this hero's journey.

Mwindo

The Mwindo believe themselves to be direct descendants of the hero whom they are named after. They are generous, kind, and modest people, and are not prone to boasting of their own achievements. They are usually shorter than average, but still strong and well-built. Their hair and eyes tend to be the colors of the sky or the earth, ranging from dusty brown to cloudy white. They tend to have large, inviting eyes and beautiful smiles. Their personalities are typically kind, generous, and almost devoid of malevolence. They tend to feel ill will only against those who do not respect their customs.

The Mwindo epic is the cornerstone of their beliefs. In the myth, the hero learns that bravery and martial prowess have their place, but those are not as important as kindness and thoughtfulness. They also realize that there are beings more powerful than themselves in the universe, and as such they honor all beings. They have no real enemies amongst the other families, for they value peace above all else. They view humans as their equals, and they treat them as such. They also act as guides and advisors for their tribes due to their ancestral connections. Many tribes feel that to have a Mwindo amongst them is a blessing, and the Mwindo are expected to uphold the values of their family most rigidly.

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Pygmies

The Pygmies are also of the Nyanga families, although their myths and legends tell different stories about them. They are enigmatic and secretive, revealing themselves only when they feel it necessary. They distrust most other families and humans, and thus they live in clusters throughout the jungles. Adept hunters and woodsmen, they live off the bounty of the forests, rarely interacting with others. They are naturally short, at most around four feet tall, and they wear garments made of leaves or hide. They tend to have features which help them hide in the jungle; their skin, hair, and eyes tend to be the colors of the jungle. They myths about "little green men" seem to have their origin in the jungles of Africa.

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Jhardhel'Healdan @ Kith @ African Kith @ Families Site Map