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Offline Kermah

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The Kermah Confederation
« on: December 27, 2021, 02:02:40 PM »

    The Kermah Confederation is a grouping of three states which formed the Confederation on the 18th August 1872. Over the preceeding 50 years the Nyakeya royal family had formed connections to the other two ensuring that Prince Chinasa Nyakeya became King of one state, Prince in another and Inkosi (tribal chief) in another.

    The three states are;

    • Balaika
    - The Kingdom of Balaika is the heart of the Confederation. It is the largest of the three by some margin and home to the Nyakeya royal line. It boasts a population just shy of 30million and an abundance of natural resources has ensured a comfortable existence for the majority of the nation. The Kingdom though does suffer from some bad press for historical misdemeanors as throughout its history it targeted surrounding Kingdoms to bring slaves to construct some of the amazing structures of the past. At one point the Kingdom in the early part of the 4th Century CE could have been considered an Empire as it assimilated several smaller Kingdoms and nomadic tribes. Today it is ruled over by King Babajide X.

    Population - 30,876,378
    GDP per capita - $23,861
    GDP - $736,741,255,458

    • Gorotoland
    - Seen by many as a Confederacy within a Confederacy. Garotoland is in effect a collection of various tribes, one or two of them still semi nomadic. Today it boasts a population of around 9million. The largest of these tribes is the Mombaka which saw Prince Chinasa Nyakeya of Balaika become an Inkosi or chief in. Utilising this influence Prince Chinasa was able to bring the tribes into the Confederacy. The land is vast open plains punctuated by seasonal rivers. The land is very fertile and this makes Gorotoland largely the breadbasket of the Confederacy.  Today it is governed by a Council made up of several tribal chiefs who elect one of their number to be "Katikkiro" which is much like a Prime Minister. The current Katikkiro is Tebogo Opeyemi of the Mombaka.

    Population - 8,873,933
    GDP per capita - $16,681
    GDP - $148,026,076,373

    • Kinjanja
    - Another monarchy however this time where the King is a merely ceremonial role. The day to day running of the nation is carried out by a "War Chief" which is actually nothing to do with war but is merely a throw back to days when the nation had a High King who presided over many tribes. In the modern era though the job is more like a Prime Minister. The nation has throughout history been famed for its military prowess, only its minute size that prevented it being a major power. With just over 4million inhabitants today the Kingdom is aligned with Balaika as their royal families are distant cousins through the bloodline of Prince Chinasa Nyakeya. Today the nation is ruled by King Tshepo Kayode and his "War Chief" is Desta Afolabi.

    Population - 4,193,892
    GDP per capita - $7,682
    GDP - $32,217,478,344
    [/list]

    Total Population - 43,944,203 (increasing by around 2.8% per annum)
    Total GDP - $916,984,810,175
    Total GDP per capita - $20,867.02


    Main Exports - Natural Gas, Agricultural Products, Processed Food, Processed metals, raw minerals.
    Main Imports - Heavy machinery, computer products, manufacturing equipment, automobiles.



    HOW THE CONFEDERATION GOVERNMENT WORKS?

    Kermah is today run as a Confederation after the signing of the Kermah Declaration which was signed at the riverside city of Kermah which gave the new nation its name.

    The Decleration states each nation must have the same laws however how they are enforced may vary. So for example all nations must have a form of income tax, the rate of that tax and how it is collected though can vary. Likewise crimes like murder are acknowledged in each nation but sentencing can be very different. At times this can lead to some rather tense issues between the three nations.

    The laws for the Confederation are determined by the Senate. Each nation sends five representatives which must be elected by the people of that nation. In addition the leader of each nation may send one further representative determined however they see fit. Once elected the Senate determine a Consul who acts much like a President or Prime Minister. The Consul may propose and draft legislation for the Confederation.

    Once a law passes the Senate it is taken to the Confederate Council. This is made up of two representatives per nation. One picked by the people via some form of election and one picked by the leader of that nation. Upon being given a proposal from the Senate they debate it and vote upon it. If it passes then it continues up its journey. If it doesn't pass they must make recommendations for how it would become acceptable. This process can only happen twice before the Council has to accept the law.

    The final stage to make a law is the Leaders Assembly. Each nation must approve the new law. A law can not come into effect until each has accepted it.  Should only 2 of the 3 leaders accept it then it sits in a state of limbo until one of two things happens. The first is that the final leader accepts the law, the alternative is that the Senate pass a vote of recall which effectively starts the process all over again.





    Offline Kermah

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    Re: The Kermah Confederation
    « Reply #1 on: December 27, 2021, 08:23:53 PM »

    KINGDOM OF BALAKIA

    In 1872 the Kingdom in its current form was established. It has passed through much change through its long history.

    THE FIRST KINGDOM (c.3000BCE - 1500BCE)


    Artists impression of Balakianda c.2000BCE

    During this phase the Kingdom formed when the Balakia tribe began to construct more permanent settlements along the river Kermah, the largest of this was Balakianda. Previously there had been other small Kingdoms in the area but under Aniba who announced himself as the first King. The settlement began to construct many key buildings such as a royal palace, a mudbrick temple and several administrative buildings. Archaeologists have since discovered a widespread Royal Graveyard to the east of the city which casts light on their being an extensive royal family. The grave yard also shows an indication that old kinship groups were still significant as circular sub-graveyards have been discovered with larger graves in the centre with hundreds of others in satellites around them.

    Other archaeological evidence from this period suggests that the Kingdom got significant amounts of tribute from further afield. Several hundred animals skulls, particularly of cattle, have been found from regions as far as TBD? ? ? ? .  At the same time evidence of a large scale gold processing industry have been found.

    In terms of war the Kingdom fared well and it was this that saw the Kingdom transition into its next phase of development.

    THE EARLY EMPIRE (c.1500BCE - 1000BCE)

    Artist impression of Balakianda in 1000BCE

    Under King Tadesse II the Balakia came under pressure from a Northern coalition of tribes who resented the tribute they had to pay. As a result the King began a campaign against them which saw him execute their ruling classes and replace them with his own cousins. This saw several new cities built that mimic'd Balakianda and similar graveyards have been discovered to those around the first city.

    In 763 BCE the first Balakian Emperor had himself crowned in Balakianda. Emperor Chibuzo I was given tribute from the three tribes they had subdued and 17 other regional areas.

    THE MIDDLE EMPIRE (c.1000BCE - 250CE)

    Under the reign of Xasan II the administration of the Empire was to become more ordered. A huge civil service was put in place which operated throughout the Empire. Anytime frontiers were remotely challenged the Empire used this an excuse to expand their borders. The Empire became rather obsessed with military might and this is shown by the huge number of fortifications found by archaeologists from this time period.

    To maitain order within the Empire a system of hostage keeping was established with each tribe within the Empire being expected to send a certain number of high ranking sons and daughters to Balakianda. While the primary aspect of this system was to prevent rebellion for fear of them being executed it also had a secondary impact of having these youngsters educated and indoctrinated by the Emperors household. As a result this ensured Imperial ways of doing things were passed down to other tribes and regions.

    THE HIGH EMPIRE (c.250CE - 1000CE)

    Reconstruction of Mudiwata East c.800 CE

    Crowned in 271 CE Emperor Mudiwa VI was crowned in what chroniclers describe as a massive ceremony that saw for the feast the slaughter of "every pig within the Empire" and lasted for six days. At the culmination of the coronation Mudiwa VI took a wife from each tribe within the Empire, a total of 14. Almost immediately he began a huge construction programme making huge irrigation canals, aquaducts, reservoirs, roads and even four massively planned cities each called Mudiwata. The process was such a long and ardious one that tribute for several years was demanded in slaves and it is estimated that around 50,000 slaves were handed over in the course of five years. The programme of building continued long after the death of Mudiwa VI. With each new Emperor the process of large weddings was repeated and it became the norm for the Emperor to have a wife from each tribe.

    During this period every time the Empire made even the most minor expansion the Emperor issued orders for large defensive positions to be constructed as well as taking a large number of slaves. During this time the city of Balakianda flourished as they constructed Universities, theological colleges, an astrological observatory and a hospital. This period is largely considered a Golden Age for the Empire.

    THE LATE EMPIRE (c.1000CE - 1500CE)

    Under Emperor Okeke IV the Empire reached its largest in terms of geographical size. A total of 22 tribes existed under its systems and Balakianda is thought to have reached a population of some 1million people. Despite the wealth and might of the Empire there were continious rconflicts as tribes frequently fought among themselves to fulfil the quota of slaves required. It was largely because of these battles to acquire slaves that the Empire had little or no wars to fight itself.

    THE FALL 1567-1581 CE

    In the year 1567 a disease struck the city of Balakianda, while the exact nature of the disease is not known many of the surviving records indicate that it was likely Ebola. In 1567 Emperor Mphatso V died from the disease followed just days later by his son Mphatso VI and then his brother Okeke V. With a huge death toll being caused the general public fled into the countryside hoping to escape the disease however this merely spread it around the Empire. Some of the more isolated cities made the decision to refuse entry to anyone for months at a time however this often lead to issue of food shortages. By 1569 the disease seems to have all but vanished and an estimated 1/4 of the Empire had died as a result. The rapid death of so many of the Imperial Family left a power vaccum and several tribes tried to take up that position.

    It was howevera distant cousin of the Imperial Family, Nwakanu Nyakeya that resolved much of the situation. While initially a lowly soldier compared to his more esteemed cousins he soon gain respect of his fellow soldiers and became a military leader. With Balakianda in ruins he was forced to move to one of the Mudiwata in the North of the country to find a safe haven. Until 1581 there were constant wars and battles until Nwakanu restored order to the core of the Empire and had himself crowned as King.

    THE NEW KINGDOM 1581CE - 1872CE

    Under King Nwakanu I the Kingdom began to seek to restore its former glories. As a result the policy of rebuilding from the centre out was begun with North Mudiwata now the capital. King Nwakanu also rejected some of the old ideas of Empire. The policy of large numbers of marriages were gone and the idea of slaves as tribute. Any captives taken in battle however were used as slaves and their descendants for three generations. In addition even the smallest crime within the Kingdom was punished by a minimum of a year as a slave.

    By the 1800's the Kingdom was largely restored to its former glory and now occupied 2/3 the land it had at is height. This expansion though was achieved through a process of assimilation through marriages, alliances and treaties. In early 1871 Prince Chinasa Nyakeya married the daughter, and only child to survive to adulthood of neighbouring Kingdom Kinjanja. On August 1st 1872 Prince Chinasa's father-in-law died and he became the King of Kinjanja. By this time his father King Seydou III was already on his death bed and Chinasa's brother was preparing to take the throne. On the 14th August King Seydou III died and was succeeded by his son who became Seydou IV. Almost immediately the two brothers put in place a system of co-operation between the two Kingdoms. It was Chinasa who drafted the idea of the Confederacy by inviting the 16 tribal chiefs who lived in a region known as Gorotoland to also join. On the 18th August the first of these chiefs agreed on condition that Chinasa marry his young daughter and the Confederacy was born. By the end of 1872 all but three tribes had become part of the Confederation.

    THE HEART OF THE CONFEDERACY  1872CE - now

    Balakianda Today

    Under the Confederacy the Kingdom grew and prospered. As part of the formation of the Confederacy all slavery was banned with the exception of anyone convicted of a crime. The capital of the Kingdom moved for a final time with Balakianda being restored to the capital. Since then the nation has become more focused on its role as an economic powerhouse of the Confederacy and the role of the monarchy, while still seen as important, has been reduced to one largely focused on international issues and being an effective PR arm of the Confederacy. The King is seen largely as the most influential individual in the Confederacy after Consul. 




    King Babajide X

    A 60 year old monarch (b.1961) who has been King of Balakai since 2011 after the death of his father Babajide IX. He is on the record as describing his role "Not as a monarch in the traditional sense, I am the CEO of Balakai PLC and my subjects are my share-holders. My duty is a simple one, put as much money into their pockets as possible and ensure their working conditions are as good as they can be." He is a University educated man however in truth he barely passed in his degree in Business Management. This near failure was not due to his intelligence or lack of hard work but more the fact that he was heavily involved in a variety of projects to help protect the nations wildlife. Rather than studying he would go and help patrol rural areas to keep poachers out of the area.

    He has two wives. His first is Queen Amara whom he married in 1982. They have three children, Princess Nyah (b.1985), Princess Ife (b.1988) and Prince Amadi (b.1991)

    In 1996 he married his second wife Queen Nkiru. They have four children, Prince Izem (b.1998), Prince Okonkwo (b.2001), Prince Chinasa (b.2003) and Prince Kwaku (b.2007). As Nkiru has given birth to so many Sons many believe she is the King's favourite wife.

    Queen Amara (b.1961) & Queen Nkiru (b.1977)
    « Last Edit: December 31, 2021, 05:42:27 PM by Kermah »

    Offline Kermah

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    Re: The Kermah Confederation
    « Reply #2 on: December 29, 2021, 06:13:31 PM »

    GOROTOLAND

    Gorotoland is perhaps described best as a Confederacy within a Confederacy. Until the formation of the Kermah Confederation it had been a collection of tribal groups constantly at war with each other until the Balakians began incursions in the 1300's. From that point on they all did their best to try and avoid the gaze of the once mighty Empire, which even following "The Fall" remained a threat to the region. It was this threat that saw a great many of the tribal chiefs pay tribute to the Balakian Emperors and later Kings, often in the form of slaves. It was this need to placate Balakia that saw Gorotoland in a near constant state of seasonal warfare. The less nomadic tribes tended to fare better as they were able to wage year round raids for captives as opposed to the more nomadic tribes who were forced to take refuge during set times of year dependent on the weather.

    It was in 1872 that the largest of the tribes, the Chief of the  Mombaka tribe all but insisted on Prince Chinasa of Balakia and eventual King of Kinjanja marry his daughter in order to bring the Gorotoland region into the Confederacy. This marked a period of great stability for the region that has existed today and while the other two regions of the Confederacy have maintained somewhat of a unified culture now there are still huge differences between the tribes in Gorotoland.

    THE MAJOR TRIBES


    HORUBA

    The Horuba Tribe are governed by a Chief who is elected by all men aged over 30 and who posses at least 50 head of Cattle. This tribe today is semi-nomadic and while their major urban area, Asoke, is for much of the year dominated by women, children and older men it is still a vibrant hub boasting a huge textile market. The tribe takes the notion of how someone is attired as a sign of their status and people will dress to impress at all times by wearing vibrant coloured clothing as coloured cloth tended to cost much more. An individual wearing a wide variety of different colours is therefore seen as higher status. It is therefore pretty easy to spot a member of the Horuba tribe outside of their territory because of what many would describe as a "explosion of colour."

    The Horuba tribe also posses a higher than average rate of twin births. While globally the number of twin births per 1000 pregnancies is around 12 among the Horuba tribe that number is 45-50. While the exact reason for this is not truly known the heavy consumption of a specific type of yam releases  phytoestrogen that may stimulate the ovaries to release an egg from each side and thus result in twins being conceived. This unusual genetic trait among the tribe is also seen as spirtitually significant and is always named Tayewo which means "First twin to taste the world." meanwhile the second twin is considered the superior as they commanded Tayewo to go and prepare the world for their arrival. As such the second twin is called Kehinde meaning "second born of the twins"


    A typical Horuba male attire

    NAGUNI

    The Naguni tribe were at one point the most warlike tribe who made a reputation for themselves by simply taking what they wanted from other tribes. Naturally in the modern era this has stopped but many of the norms of that past culture can still be found. Naguni society is extremely patriachal and a man is judged by his ability to compete in "Stick fighting". This is a beloved martial art of the tribe where two meter long wooden sticks are used to fight another man. These contests take place at quartly festivals or when a man feels his sense of honour has been insulted. A bout is won if you kill an opponent, injure them or make them drop their own stick. The art is governed by a set of unwritten rules. A person may not fight anyone who is more than five years different from them in age and they may not fight someone who has already fought within two days. The art form is a way of men to show their strength and is often used to allow father's to observe suitable husbands for their daughters as those with more skill are deemed more likely to be able to provide for the daughter. As the tribe were primarily cattle herders men were expected to tend to the herd and protect it from danger. Stick fighting is also significant as it determines their King. Upon the death of a King any man with at least three wives and two sons may nominate himself for King. There then takes place a tournament to determine the new King, this is the only time the rules for the combat are ignored.

    Women within the tribe are expected to fulfil the role of mother and wife. In tradition women outnumbered men in the tribe and so polygomy was practiced. The way a woman dresses is determined by her marital status. Single women are expected to wear their hair long and uncovered, once engaged they will tie their hair up and wear a kind of hair net. Once married they will wear a headscarf completely covering their hair. If a woman is widowed she shaves her head completely and goes back to uncovering her hair once it reaches 1 inch long.


    Naguni men stick fighting

    MOMBAKA

    Numerically the largest of the tribes. Anthropologists put this down largely to them adopting agricultural practices far earlier than most tribes and having a reliable and rather unique military to defend their self defined borders of their tribal lands. While they are still a largely rural people they are effectively ruled by a hereditary King. 

    Men of the tribe are expected to be farmers and able to run their own homestead. In times gone past each man was expected to pay tribute to the King by giving a share of crops and in addition a set number of spears and shields to be made each year. A man would measure his wealth by how many spears he was expected to provide and this was significant in many rituals as a "Fifty Spear Man" would get priority over a "Twenty Spear Man".

    Women are seen as aides to running farms and have a duty to provide children. Polygomy was common among the tribe however this is now less commonly practiced. A unique ritual involving women happens each year. It is known as the Uhmlang and typically takes place when the harvest is done. All women who are unmarried and have gone through puberty are expected to gather at the tribes capital of Luzdidi. Once they arrive any who are pregnant are separated off and expected to repent for their "evil" of being unchaste. Traditionally this was by having a their hair cut short (tradition dictates women should keep their hair longer than their shoulders) and the family were fined one cow. Those considered pure are then to gather in the towns muster-field, each with a small shield similar to those once carried by men in battle, and a small knife. The women also wear traditional attire of a bead necklace, rattling anklets made from cocoons, a sash, and skirt (historically women would also have bare breasts however this is becoming less common) they dance to the river as a long parade and gather reeds which once were traditionally used to thatch the King's Palace roof. Upon their return from the river they are sorted into five Regiments, these regiments were expected to be able to be called up as a reserve force if needed. Once placed into a Regiment for the first time a woman is given an ear-ring which they must then wear for life. The Regiments are broadly speaking arranged by geography, so East, West, South, North, Central. Each Regiment is then paraded past the King and his family, female members eligible for the Regiments are expected to parade. The King is permitted to select one girl from each Regiment (he may select none) to serve him for the year. If during that time the girl becomes pregnant she is automatically considered married to the King. Once the King has made his selection a Prince may select one girl from a Regiment based on where his land holding is, so for example a Prince holding land in the North may select one girl from the Northern Regiment. The King may then offer "selections" to honoured guests. In truth most of the "selections" are pre-arranged and bride prices agreed between those selecting and the girls families.  In 1872 Prince Chinasa of Balakia attended this ceremony and had agreed to select the Kings daughter, thus making him part of the tribe through marriage.


    2019's Uhmlang





    "THE CAPITAL OF THE TRIBAL LANDS" - LUZDIDI


    Luzdidi was originally constructed by the Mombaka tribe and a settlement there can be traced back to around c.500BCE. The population of the city is just under 100,000 people however this fluctuates heavily throughout the year. Today around 40% of that population is from the Mombaka tribe. The outskirts of the city contain the old muster-field sits on its western edge and is used for the Uhmlang of the Mombaka tribe. The city also features the regions government building and a house given to the  "Katikkiro" who is essentially the states Prime Minister. He is elected from the chiefs of the various tribes and serves a term of four years.




     Katikkiro Tebogo Opeyemi of Gorotoland

    Currently elected leader of Gorotoland, he is the King of the Mombaka tribe so it is perhaps not surprising that he is selected to run Gorotoland. He was born in 1962 and became King in 1980. Since becoming King he has tried to guide his tribe towards greater agricultural diversification as he believed they'd become over reliant on wheat and cattle. Initially he was not elected as Katikkiro simply because people were unsure whether such a young man would be able to handle the pressure of such a role. In 1990 he however became Katikkiro for the first time. This is a position he has largely held since however there have been occasional gaps as he has requested people not vote for him as wished to focus on his Kingdom or on family issues. He is a very traditional man who attends every years Uhmlang ceremony. Every year he selects four girls as outlined under the traditional rules of the ceremony. He ensured that by the time each girl finishes their year of royal service they have received a good enough education as to be able to read and write to a high standard and also ensured they have a significant dowry to attract a future husband. He also practices polygamy.

    His first wife was Queen Fatsani who he married in 1978. They have four children, Prince Itoro (b.1980), Prince Ikechukwu (b.1983), Princess Subira (b.1987) and Princess Chidimma (b.1991)

    In 1981 he married Queen Nnenna. They have three children, Prince Cusmaan (b.1983), Princess Adwoa (b.1985) and Prince Onyekachi (b.1990)

    In 1990 he married Queen Ssanyu whom he meet during the Uhmlang and became pregnant thus becoming a Queen. They have three children Princess Werknesh (b.1990), Prince Bitrus (b.1992) and Prince Kayode (b.1999)

    In 1999 he married Queen Taurai and they have three children, Princess Dayo (b.2001), Prince Okeke (b.2003) and Princess Hadiza (b.2006)

    Finally in 2017 he married Queen Aņuli and they have one child Princess Hibo (b.2019)




    Queen Fatsana, Queen Nnenna, Queen Ssanyu,
     Queen Taurai, Queen Aņuli

    « Last Edit: December 31, 2021, 06:38:04 PM by Kermah »

    Offline Kermah

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    Re: The Kermah Confederation
    « Reply #3 on: December 30, 2021, 01:58:20 AM »


    THE KINGDOM OF KINJANJA

    Kinjanja is on paper a monarchy and while the King is well respected he is viewed as nothing more than a ceremonial role. His duties today include ensuring the smooth running of elections, carrying out various rituals throughout the year and promoting the Kingdom however possible. In the early 1800's a civil war rocked the Kingdom and the royal family ended up negotiating a peace settlement that ensured they retained their status but gave up much of their power. Soon after in an attempt to maintain their prestige the royal family married their only child to survive into adulthood to Prince Chinasa of Balakai, thus the foreign Prince eventually became King and as he took the nation into the Confederacy gave up more of the families power. This has largely been successful for the Kingdom who since the formation of the Confederacy have found themselves becoming slowly ever more wealthy and stable. Today the King is still permitted to sit in Council and even vote if he so wishes however there are a total of 50 Councillors elected every four years and so his vote counts for little. Once a Parliament is elected they appoint one of their number as the "Indoda yempi" which translates roughly as "War-Man" which was the most trusted member of the King's Council prior to the Civil War.

    THE FIRST KINGDOM OF KINJANJA (c.500 BCE - 200CE)

    As Emperor Xasan II expanded the Balakai Empire the people of the Kinjanja region found themselves united by a man who would go on to become King Mswati the Lion managed to gather an army that was one of the few places to repel the expanding Empire. Once he had secured the region rather than return to peace his loyal band of warriors imposed a reign of terror upon the area removing all tribal chiefs and their families by mass executions. In their place he put trusted lieutenants and then instigated a huge system of imposed marriages to mix the tribes together. This was largely successful over time and a fledgling nation was formed. It centred its capital on the settlement of Dlamini which became heavily fortified and famously never had its walls breached. Mswati also established what is considered the first military academy in the region. It was compulsory for any criminal to attend for five years. It was also compulsory for the third son in any family to attend for five years with each subsequent son attending for a year less. At this Academy various military skills were taught as well as regular exercises and combat tournaments. It was not uncommon for there to be a number of deaths each year.   

    Descendants of King Mswati maintained his academy system with little change. While the new born Kingdom lacked the population numbers of the Empire of Balakai the level of skill and discipline among its subjects ensured that the Kingdom was relatively untouched by foreign aggression.


    Ruins of the first military academy built in Dlamini 

    THE SECOND KINGDOM OF KINJANJA (c.200 CE - 700CE)

    In 195 CE King Sobhuza II died and a brief rebellion against his son took place. While this was put down quickly the royal family were murdered. The Kings had begun selecting council members from various tribes as a way of trying to wipe out tribal affiliations as important. As a result their had become a position of  "Indoda Yempi" to oversee the military academy and make decisions on the up keep of the military. It was the "Indoda Yempi" of the time, Ngwane the Warrior , that named himself King in the aftermath. He was well respected by the people and was such a successful military leader that he even forced the Empire of Balakai into constructing fortifications between the two territories.

    When Ngwane the Warrior died in 224CE he was succeeded by his son Ngwane the Little Soldier (so called because he had a very short stature but was considered an excellent warrior both individually and as a leader) "The Little Soldier" while maintaining control of his own Kingdom also found himself given territory within Balakai after making an arrangement where each year the Emperor would be permitted to recruit 100 Kinjanja Warriors and send 15 of his soldiers to the nations highly respected academies. It was during this time that Dlamini was turned into a significant cultural capital with the construction of several temples dedicated to ancestors from the nations past, the largest of which naturally was built to King Mswati the Lion.

    In 704 CE King Tibati the Gazelle was murdered by his own "Indoda Yempi" who then seized the throne.

    THE THIRD KINGDOM OF KINJANJA (c.700 CE - 1100CE)

    Following the assassination of King Tibati the Gazelle by his "Indoda Yempi" the assassin sought to take the throne for himself. As such King Ludvonga the Blood Coated, ruled for just a single day before he in turn was murdered by a group of students from the military academy in what has since been called the Apprentice War. In the days that followed the Academy held a tournament in the tradition of the Naguni tribe to determine the new King. This was won by a 16 year old warrior who became King Mswati the Sure Stick. Under Sure-Stick the Kingdom saw a series of quick purges as he sought to eliminate anyone from the old royal family and connected to Ludvonga. Following this he set about adding to his nations wealth by utilising his men in raids outside his Kingdom to capture slaves to sell to Balakai. He is considered a rather ruthless monarch who utilised stick fighting tournaments as a means of appointing men to his council and positions of power.

    Following the death of Sure-Stick the nation became calmer and Tibati the Judge established the nations first series of unified law courts and even went so far as to have these laws etched on giant stone structures that lead to the gates of the city of Dlamini. He also sought to ensure that all men could read these laws and an annual ceremony took place where they were read to a large gathered crowd.

    Tibati the Judge's son, Ndvungunye the Artist, believed that a warrior must be "strong of body, strong of mind, pure of soul" and believed that by mastering calligraphy and art a man could become a better soldier. As such the idea of the nations prestigious military academies also became the homes of poets and musicians.



    Walls of Dlamini, part of the ancient city, the exterior of these walls contain inscriptions of ancient laws

    THE FORTH KINGDOM OF KINJANJA (c.1100 CE - 1400CE)

    In 1109 CE King Tibati the Golden died with only daughters. As such his son-in-law became King Ngwane the Lucky. As King he encouraged exploration beyond the shores of the Kingdom and is regarded as the first Kermah leader to encourage exploration of Mundus. He was considered rather lucky as he himself went on one coastal scouting trip and was washed overboard in a storm yet somehow found himself back on land with no injury. His ideas of exploring the world lead to an increase in trade and even saw Kinjanja Warriors become mercenaries in conflicts foreign to their shores.

    Under the descendants of Ngwane the Lucky the nation for the first time began to look beyond its own continent rather than inward. It lead to a belief that the system of slavery was wrong and as such future generations of Kinjanja Warriors began adopting as a test of skill the concept of venturing out from their Academy and returning with a freed slave.


    Artists Impression of a Kinjanja Warrior during this period.

    THE FIFTH KINGDOM OF KINJANJA (c.1400 CE - 1850CE)

    In 1403 CE King Sukuta the Elephant Rider died and with only a four year old son appointed his "Indoda Yempi" as the boys regent until he reached age of leadership. The widowed Queen married the "Indoda Yempi" and a year later the young King died in mysterious circumstances, as such the "Indoda Yempi" declared himself King and became King Ndlovu the Fortunate. This period of history marked a return to wars with Balakai particularly after the period of the Empire's history known as "The Fall" where an Ebola outbreak took over the Empire. The King during this time was King Gebase the Well who issued orders that anyone crossing the frontier was to be "denied shelter, food or water and their life taken as distantly as possible." Many historians believe this effective quarantine probably saved the Kingdom from suffering to the same extent.

    In the years that followed the Empire sought to re-establish itself and impose new slavery on the region. Kinjanja stood against this and even at times formed alliances with tribes from Gotoroland, in particular the Mombaka.

    THE KINGDOM OF BLOOD (c.1850 CE - 1872CE)

    With the death of King Kunene the Rhino the nation fell into chaos. He had died at the age of 19 and had a single son who was four years old. The "Indoda Yempi" attempted to assassinate the child but failed as members of his bodyguard whisked the child away. The nation then effectively ended up with two Kings, King Gebase the Infant and King Mombandi the Yempi. The war was bloody and at times Balakai and various tribes took advantage to gain territory for themselves.

    In 1861 it seemed like the war was all but won by Mombandi the Yempi when an army lead by a commoner called Langa began taking action of their own. This army was comprised of many leading members from the nations military academies and with support from ? ? ? ? ? managed to take the upper hand. This saw a three way war develop which none of the leaders, Mombandi, Langa or Gebase would survive. In order to try and win the war King Mombandi the Yempi had married his daughter to Prince Chinasa Nyakeya of Balakai in hopes of bringing the Empire into the war on his side. While initially troops did arrive and the tide began to swing Mombandi would die less than 12 months later making Chinasa the King of Kinjanja. Now known as King Chinasa the Peace-Maker he immediately negotiated an end to the war and first brought the commoners onto his side and then the forces that had been loyal to Gebase who had died two months earlier. As part of the arrangement made on August 1st 1872 the King gave up the majority of his power to form a system similar to that of today. Less than two weeks later the Confederacy was born.

    THE MILITARY HEART OF THE CONFEDERACY (1872 CE - 1903CE)

    Under King Chinasa the Peace-Maker the Kingdom flourished as a democracy at first. As part of the arrangements that formed the Confederacy the nation retained segregated military units and were considered for a long time the elite of the Confederacies military. Some nationalists however began to get concerned that the nations strict military academies were being weakened because of the "soft outsiders" as such in 1903 there was a minor coup attempt by one Academies graduates and leaders which was put down rather brutally even before the Confederacy could take action with its rather new military. A total of 482 people were executed in public over a five day period. It was determined to stop future coups that it would be best to integrate members of each part of the Confederacy into each Regiment or unit. While this is the case even today within each Regiment Battallions along state lines still exist and there is a proud tradition that the Kinjanja Battallions are considered the most disciplined and skilled.

    THE MODERN KINGDOM (1903CE - TODAY)

    The Kingdom is today the smallest part of the Confederation but is also the poorest. It relies largely on manual labour type jobs such as farming, mining and forestry and some historians say its focus on military prowess and skill throughout its history stopped it developing its economy as much as other regions. While this may be true the economy here is growing rapidly largely thanks to investment from outside its own borders.

    Today the Kingdom retains many unique traditions such as its military academies and the system of government established at the birth of the Confederacy.





    NAMING OF KINGS

    Unlike many nations who take to naming Kings with numbers, for example East Moreland's King David III or King Michael the First of Tytor, the King of Kinjanja is given a epitaph. This is not done until they have been on the throne for two years and is given by consultation of the priesthood of the local folk faiths. Should a King die before being on the throne two years then one is given at their death. Names can be selected based on their life story, policies, interests or even physical appearence. It is expected that the King will use their epitaph once given and that the name can only be changed if the majority of the priests who gave it agree.

    Currently the King of Kinjanja is King Tshepo he regularly attends Council and speaks in debate. He is considered to be extremely calming within the chamber with a very mild manner and considered wise advice. These debates are televised and upon being given the name the Priests giving it commented that he "ends the most fierce storms within Parliament simply by the manner of his existence."



    King Tshepo

    Tshepo became King in late 2020 following the death of his father King Malawao the Prudent (so called as he invested his families wealth wisely and created a financial foundation for the whole Kingdom). He was born in 1982 and is a keen sportsman. His greatest ambition is to one day bring major global sporting events to the Confederation on a regular basis as well as one day become Consul of the Confederation but he accepts that this is a highly unlikely event.

    As a boy in the royal family he was expected to be educated in one of the traditional military academies that dominate Kinjanja society. He took to the highly active life-style, in particular the physical training and after serving from 2000-2003 in the Kinjanja Royal Mechanised Guard he transferred to the Physical Training Corps. He held a commission in the unit until 2008. Alongside his military duties he would attend Council as a Prince and King are permitted. He would often find himself in the middle of debates asking many questions to ascertain what he thought would be the best way forward prior to voting. As such he often was found to be the one proposing compromises and amendments to legislation. He had been approached by several parties, both national and within the Kingdom to stand on their election ticket however has refused as he believes he serves the Kingdom best by being a neutral.

    In 2001 he married Yaa Idowu, a daughter of a Chief of the Horuba tribe from Gorotoland. The pair have two children, Princess Mirembe (b.2007) and Prince Melisizwe (b.2010). 


    Queen Yaa
    « Last Edit: January 20, 2022, 10:15:42 PM by Kermah »

    Offline Kermah

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    Re: The Kermah Confederation
    « Reply #4 on: December 30, 2021, 11:34:59 AM »

    ISIOBODO - THE CONFEDRACY CITY

    Isiobodo translates quiet literally as Capital City. When the Confederacy came into being it was decieded that no existing capital should be given the honour of being the capital of the Confedracy but each state recognised the need for an administrative centre. As such the name "Capital City" was translated into the various different languages spoken within the Confedration (thought to be more than 30) and the one that was considered the most in keeping with place names across the new nation was selected. The site of the city itself was crucial as to not give one nation more prestige than others. It was prominent scholar of his day, Mubiru Kayode, that made the final decision. He selected a site just inside the border of the Balakai nation that was at the time home to only a small temple complex. He choose the site as the deity, a fertility Goddess, was worshipped in each of the three parts of the Confederacy (by different names) and the temple had been visited by many chiefs from Gotoroland, King's of Kinjanja and Emperors of Balakai throughout its history. The temple todays sits 5km to east of the city


    Temple dedicated to what is referred to as Mother Mundus

    Construction at the city began in 1873 with the first building being an accomodation centre for the new governnment representatives. While this was not completed until 1875 the government still meet. Before then meetings of the new Confederate government had taken place in each of the three nations capitals in rotation by alphabetical order, each session sitting for four months before moving. When the accomodation was completed the government began meeting in what was called the "Tented Council", a large marquee being erected close to where the new government HQ was being constructed.


    Photograph taken in the late 1800's of the first accommodation built for the new government.

    Many believed the idea of the Confederation having a fixed government centre was cursed as the construction of the new Senate house collapsed three times and once near completion caught fire. As a result of these setbacks it was not until 1881 that the "Tented Council" ended and moved into its new home. The first act passed in the Senate's new home was to officially recognise the 18th August 1872 as the national "Day of Celebration" and make Chinasa Nyakeya the first recipient of the "Confederation Star" a medal that is to be awarded for those who have given "devoted and honoured service to the Confederation." 

    #
    The Senate building today

    As the Senate grew in its permanent home so did the need for its administrators and staff to live close by. This lead to the development of more housing and facilities such as schools and retail outlets. By 1920 the city had in place an urban plan that appreciated the city would need to be planned. As such strict rules were passed to ensure that construction didn't become as dense as other cities within the Confederation were becoming. Today the city has limits on height of houses and how much land can be built on. This has so far seen a great mix of urban construction with lots of green space. Today the city sits at a population of just over 100,000 making it perhaps the smallest capital on Mundus. It is home to the Confederate University and a military academy run by the Kinjanja. The two institutes maintain a fierce but friendly rivalry which sees the annual "Capital Festival of Sport" which takes place in August each year and features students competing in a range of sporting events. The event culminates in a huge street party which coincides with the National Day of Celebration.

    One issue which the capital experiences is which nations laws are applicable there as each nation may make slight adjustments to laws. As such it was determined that an individual would be arrested by Balakai Police if they committed a crime as recognised by Balakai. Once arrested an individual is handed over to their "nation of origin" which is determined firstly by place of birth, if that was the city then by parents place of birth (if also the city they are considered Balakain) or finally any allegiances given, so for example having joined a battallion in the army. At that point the court case and any subsequent punishment is given by that nations court systems. At first this could see wildly different outcomes however over the last 30 years or so the nations have a more consistent approach to laws and justice. 


    Offline Kermah

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    Re: The Kermah Confederation
    « Reply #5 on: December 31, 2021, 03:54:50 PM »
    Confederation stanceBalakai particularsDorotoland particularsKanjanja particulars
    AbortionStrictly ControlledAllowed only in cases of rape and incestAllowed only in cases of incestAllowed only in cases of rape and incest.
    AdulteryNo Legal Stance
    Affirmative ActionDoes not exist
    Age of Consent16
    Age of majority16
    Artificial InseminationPermittedMust use own egg and sperm
    Assisted suicideIllegal
    BestalityIllegalPunishable by death.
    Birth ControlNo legal stance
    ChildcareMust be privately provided.
    Concealed carryPermittedOnly for citizens of Balakai who has passed a medical and psychological examOnly for citizens of Dorotoland who have a permit.Only for citizens who have graduated a military academy.
    Death Penalty PermittedUsed only for murder and treason.Used for murder, treason, rape, bestiality and witchcraftUsed for murder and treason
    DivorcePermitted
    Drinking Age16 for the whole nation
    Driving Age16 for the whole nation
    Education Everyone must have free access to education until at least age 16.Free education from age 4-18Free education from age 4-16Free education from 4-18.
    Eminent domainPermitted with approval by local councils.
    Equal Pay for Equal WorkNo laws in place
    Felony Disenfranchisement No criminal may vote while serving sentencesAnyone having served more than five years in prison may not vote for five years after release.
    Flag desecrationNo legal stance
    Gambling Age16 years of age
    Gun Purchase Age18 years of ageMust have  permit from police first. This is only available for people with no criminal record and having attended a police run safety course.Must have successfully completed a background check. Must have either military service or a background check.
    Homosexuality in the militaryNo legal stance
    Human CloningNot permitted
    Marriageable Age16 years of age with parental consent, 18 without
    Military conscriptionNational system in place for a draft should it be required
    Minimum WageNo national lawImposed by the government
    Parental LeaveNo national stanceA father may take a two week period of leave unpaid.
    PolygomyPermitted in some circumstancesOnly permitted if a judge is convinced a husband can support multiple wivesPermitted on a tribe by tribe case.Permitted only if existing wives give consent
    PornographyCan be purchased if over 18 years of age.
    ProstitutionIllegalBoth those selling and procuring services are crimianlsOnly those selling services are criminalsOnly those either procuring services or arranging prostitution are criminals
    Same-Sex Marriage
    Sex Reassignment SurgeryNo stance
    Sex ToysLegal
    Sexually Transmitted DiseasesAnyone knowingly engaging in sex who has one is breaking the lawConsidered attempted murderConsidered assaultConsidered assault
    Smoking Age16 years of age
    State IdeologyNone
    State ReligionFreedom of Religion
    Stem Cell ResearchMay not use cells from foetuses
    TaxationA national system of income tax exists states may impose additional taxes
    TortureNot permitted
    Trial by JuryAll trials must use juriesJuries of 12 individualsJuries of 12 individuals must be used and may not be drawn from the tribe the victim or accused are fromJuries of 9 used
    Universal HealthcareEmergency Health Care must be providedAll essential health care provided through taxationOnly emergency health care is free all other is paid by insurance or private fundsAll essential health care provided through taxation
    Voting Age18 years of age
    Womens RightsNo special protection in law
    Working AgeNo national stanceNo individual under the age of 16 may do more than 20 hours of work a week.No individual under the age of 16 may do more than 20 hours of work a week unless it is in an agricultural setting.No stance
    Working WeekNo national stance

    Offline Kermah

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    Re: The Kermah Confederation
    « Reply #6 on: December 31, 2021, 05:20:34 PM »
    THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT


    Consul -Dr. Adebola Kamau

    The Consul is much like what many nations would call a Prime Minister or President. He lays out the legislative agenda for the year and is responsible for appointing various government Ministers. The Consul is selected by the members of the Senate, this means he usually comes from the largest political party. The Consul has to face weekly questions in Senate and also monthly briefings with representatives of each of the Confederations Head of States.

    The current Consul is Dr. Adebola Kamau a 55 year old (b.1966) from Balakai. He is a qualified doctor and worked as a general practionar until 2002. He entered politics as he was disappointed with the level of health care given across the Confederation. He first became a local councillor and became highly thought of by his local people and was recruited by the Unity Party. By 2014 he was one of the leading members of Unity and was serving in the Senate. He has served as Minister of Health, Deputy Consul and then in 2019 he became Consul. His agenda has been to try and utilise the huge material wealth under the nation while also keep them out of international disputes. The Consul though has stated publically that this status quo can not continue.


    King Babajide X of Balakai ,  King Tshepo of Kinjanja,  Katikkiro Tebogo Opeyemi of Gorotoland

    The three Heads of State have vastly different roles. Katikkiro Opeyemi acts as much a way as a Prime Minister or President would however has a much smaller portfolio. Meanwhile King Tshepo is purley a ceremonial position. On paper each has a 1/3 say in the final decision of which laws to pass however in reality all of them rely on local governments to guide their decision.


    Offline Kermah

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    Re: The Kermah Confederation
    « Reply #7 on: December 31, 2021, 11:30:04 PM »
    CONFEDERATION POLITIAL PARTIES

    Within the Confederation there are several layers of democractically elected government. At the highest level of Senate there are only fifteen elected representatives for the whole country. As such many political parties are not present on the national stage.

    With Balakai there is a 80 person elected Council that represents the nation in terms of domestic policies. While the King retains significant power to block legislation he feels is unacceptable it is next to impossible for him to stop it completely. In addition to the elected Council for the nation the Kingdom is broken up into 10 regions each of which have  a five person elected Local Council and a Council Chairperson to make local decisions such as planned housing, refuse collection etc.

    In Gorotoland the picture is more complex. Each tribe has their own individual government system however lots of these today include elements on elected positions. At a national level Chiefs sit on a council that make decisions alongside the Katikkiro.

    In Kinjanja the King has very little decision making power. As a result the nation elects 50 Councillors every four years and the one with most support, usually belonging to the biggest party, is given the position of "Indoda Yempi"who effectively instructs the King in which legislation to sign into existence.



    Party NameSizeLeaningKey policies
    Unity PartyConfederacy Wide
    Major Party
    Centre Left*Strengthening ties between the states.
    *Systems such as taxation, education and justice to be the same across the Confederacy
    *All key industries to be brought under the control of the State
    *Introduction of more laws governing treatment of workers e.g Minimum wage for all
    The Socialist Party of WorkersConfederacy wide,
    minor party
    Extreme Left*Abolition of all monarchies and inherited systems
    *Removal of tribal differentiation
    *Establishment of Workers Collectives
    *Land redistribution
    *Creation of a system of free University education
    The People's PartyConfederacy wide
    Minor Party
    Extreme Left*Dissolution of all monarchies
    *Formation of a randomly selected National Assembly
    *President elected every five years
    *All industry to be controlled by the state
    *Universal Healthcare
    Balakai Labour PartyBalakai OnlyModerate Left*Introduction of minimum wage
    *Monarch to lose power to same level as Kinjanja
    *Creation of a national Health and Safety task force to prevent industrial accidents
    *Profit sharing to be made compulsory in all businesses
    *Free Health Care and Education for all
    One TribeGorotolandModerate Left*Abolition of Tribal identities
    *Creation of a national system of democratic elections
    *Creation of a minimum wage and working hour control
    *Gender equality, Polygamy for both genders or none.
    *Sliding scale of taxation to make rich pay more.
    The Social Democratic PartyNationwide
    Mid Sized Party
    Centre Left*Free but heavily regulated economy
    *Heavy investment in national infastructure
    *Insistence on 4% of GDP spending on defence
    *Increase in sliding tax scales to better support the poor
    Kinjanja GreenKinjangaCentre Left*Aim to make Kinjanja independent
    *Creation of a President style figure with elected assembly
    *Preservation of the natural environment
    *Aim to create equality based on many protected characteristics
    *Abolishment of the Royal Family and confiscation of royal land
    Centre AllianceNationwide
    Minor Party
    Centre*Creation of one single national government structure
    *Creation of a simple to follow nationwide tax scheme
    *Introduction of taxes to end inequality e.g Inheritance Taxes
    *Creation of a National Health Service
    *Creation of a Women's Protection Act to end inequality towards women.
    Unite PartyKinjanjaCentre*End to Abortion
    *Increase in sentencing for all crimes
    *Investment into military self sufficency
    *Liberal economic policies
    *Health care for all
    Tribal DemocratsGorotoland
    Beginning to stand nationally
    Moderate Right*Removal of all tribal differences
    *Creation of an over-arching national system of government
    *Increased role for King in politics but still no power to over-rule
    *Economy to remove as much red tape as possible
    *National Service to be introduced
    *Extension of the Death Penalty and Corporal Punishment
    Independent PartyNationwide
    Minor Party
    Far Right*Wants all parts of the Confederation to return to independence
    *Wants all parts of the Confederation to maintain their right to own militaries
    *Wants the creation of independent economies
    *Creation of independent justice systems
    *Started as several national independence parties that believed co-operation would achieve their aims better

    More to come

    Offline Kermah

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    Re: The Kermah Confederation
    « Reply #8 on: January 01, 2022, 12:02:17 AM »
    CONFEDERATION FOREIGN POLICY

    GLOBAL DOCUMENTS

    Mundus Convention of Universal Rights - Many parts of the document are deemed to run counter to Kermah Culture. For example its stance on same-sex marriage and gender reassignment. The document is also viewed as a "rich man's wishlist" rather than something all nations on Mundus could realistically comply with. In addition the only way to comply with parts such as "Adequate health care infrastructure, goods and services must be available to all communities." because in order for some nations to be able to do this they must rely on charity from richer nations which comes at a cost either financially, politically or morally.

    Fair Seas Concordat - While broadly agreeing with the document and its aims the nation does not feel it is enforceable due to their being a lack of a global organisation devoted to its maintainence. The Concordat is reliant on the good will of nations rather than a rule of law. The 2018 Maritime Limits Decree however is essentially a statement in which the nation has reworded the FSC to apply to each of the Confederacy states, thus in a roundabout way accepting the FSC as an internal and not international document.

    Environmental Treaty of Wellow Seen as an "imperfect document". The Senate voted on whether to ratify the document but it was not passed. The main reasons for opposition was a belief that while rich nations of the world would find compliance easy nations such as Kinjanja would struggle. It also does not permit less developed nations like the Confederacy to exploit resources for development that more developed nations have done thus confining those with an earlier industrial or technological revolution to always maintain a global dominance.

    Treaty for the Protection of Hygelac and Hrothgar - Signed by the Confederation and approved by all three nations thus it is part of Confederation Law

    Uppsala Convention - Approval for the document is generally high however the stumbling block of the document holding the MCUR as a kind of example of how to conduct trials is shunned by the Confederation as it believes the Uppsala Convention citing it lends the MCUR credibility which the Confederation rejects. While not signatories it should be noted that the 2018 Military Responsibilities Act makes knowledge of the Uppsala Convention a requirement of passing basic military training and upon graduation all officers sign a Confederation Military Convention which is almost word for word a replica of the Uppsala Convention

    Outer Space Standards Convention - Not yet signed as the nation has shown no interest in the development of a space programme. During debates in Senate it has been noted that they oppose anyone exploiting space for raw materials and also anyone laying territorial claims to other worlds.

    Mundus Atomic Energy Agency  - Not yet signed as the nation has not begun developing any nuclear powered systems. While it is expected support for signing would be high the arguments that surrounded Lijiang's involvement in the Agency have caused some suspicion.



    MULTI-NATIONAL DOCUMENTS

    Council of Albion - At present see's no point joining the Council as the Confederation has so few links with other nations beyond its border in a formal manner.



    NATION TO NATION RELATIONS

    Paracambi - As Eastern neighbours and with some shared history the Paracambians are considered the closest friends to the Confederation. As of yet no formal treaty exists between the two however once the Confederation was formed it supported Paracambi's stance on anti-slavery naval raids. In addition under the reign of  Ngwane the Lucky during the 4th Kingdom when Kinjanja Warriors would undertake a task to demonstrate their readiness for combat. This involved leaving their Academy and returning at a later date with a former slave who they had helped free. As such many Kinjanja Warriors journeyed to Paracambi and joined their navy as a means of doing this. As a result of this ancient friendship their exists a spirit of comradely between the two nations.

    Offline Kermah

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    Re: The Kermah Confederation
    « Reply #9 on: January 01, 2022, 02:05:39 AM »
    THE CONFEDERATION ANTHEM


    The song was written in 1880 and first performed at the formal opening of the permanent Senate building in 1881. The official version is sung in Kermah however various versions exist to make allowances for different languages spoken within the Confederation. The song was designed to promote a sense of co-operation and pride within what was at the time a new nation. There however is among a significant minority a dislike of the anthem as it seems to "Foreign" as though trying to sound like more common national anthems from across Mundus and ignoring the tribal spirit of traditional music from the region.

    Kermah VersionEnglish Version
    1. Enyi Miungu, tunakuomba Uilinde
    Shirikisho letu la Kermah
    Utuwezeshe kuishi kwa amani
    Tutimize kwa malengo yetu


    CHORUS

    Jumuiya Yetu sote tuilinde
    Tuwajibike tuimarike
    Umoja wetu ni nguzo yetu
    Idumu Jumuiya yetu.

    2.Uzalendo pia mshikamano
    Viwe msingi wa Umoja wetu
    Na tulinde Uhuru na Amani
    Mila zetu na desturi zetu.

    3.Viwandani na hata vijijini
    Hebu sote tufanye kazi kwa bidii
    Tujitoe kwa hali na mali
    Tujenge Shirikisho bora
    1. O Gods, we ask You to protect it
    Our Confederation of Kermah
    Enable us to live in peace
    Fulfill us with our goals


    CHORUS

    Let us all protect our community
    We must take responsibility for our actions
    Our unity is our pillar
    Endure our Community.

    2.Patriotism is also solidarity
    Be the foundation of our Union
    May we protect Freedom and Peace
    Our traditions and customs.

    3.Industrial and even rural
    Let us all work hard
    Let us dedicate ourselves to status and wealth
    Let's build a better Confederation


    THE UNOFFICIAL ANTHEMS

    With a significant minority of the population not finding the official anthem palatable in terms of truly representing the nation a series of "rival" or unofficial anthems are sung. One of the most favoured ones was written in 1904 for a meeting of the first Youth Senate. Supporters of this anthem like the fact it is more inclusive of other languages spoken in the Confederation and seems more joyful which some argue is a hallmark of most tribal songs. Traditionally each verse is sung in a different tribal language and a total of some 62 different verses are known.

    The most commonly sung version is below

    Gods bless Kermah
    May her glory be lifted high
    Hear our petitions
    Albion bless us, your children

    Gods we ask You to protect our nations
    Intervene and end all conflicts
    Protect us, protect our nation
    Protect Kermah, Kermah

    Out of the blue of our heavens
    Out of the depths of our seas
    Over our everlasting mountains
    Where the echoing crags resound

    Sounds the call to come together,
    And united we shall stand,
    Let us live and strive for freedom,
    In North Albion our land.




    Offline Kermah

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    Re: The Kermah Confederation
    « Reply #10 on: January 02, 2022, 08:34:51 PM »
    THE KERMAH CONFEDERATION ARMY (KAF)


    Following the formation of the Confederation a national military was established. Today the Army stands at 81,000 men on active duty.

    List of active Regiments. The number in (brackets) is the number of active Battalions.

    Armoured Units

    1st Mechanised Infantry
    2nd Mechanised Infantry
    1st Tank Regiment
    2nd Tank Regiment
    Confederate Armoured Guard
    Confederate Mobile Infantry Regiment
    Balakai Cavalry Regiment
    Kinjanja Royal Mechanised Guard
    Gorotoland Tribal Cavalry

    Infantry Units

    Kermah Guards Regiment (3)
    The Confederate Guard (3)
    The Balakai Rifle Regiment (3)
    Royal Kinjanja Regiment (3)
    Gorotoland Infantry Regiment (5)
    The United Gorotoland Regiment (2)
    The Kermah Airborne Regiment (4)
    The Regiment of Tribal Scouts (2)
    1st United Ranger Regiment (4)
    2nd United Ranger Regiment (2)
    Regiment of Kermah (2)

    Other Combat Arms

    Confederate Special Operations Command (2)
    Long Range Reconnaissance Corps (3)
    Army Flying Corps (3)
    Kermah Light Scouts (1)

    Combat Support

    The Kermah Artillery Regiment
    Regiment of Combat Engineers
    Corps of Signalmen
    National Intelligence Corps
    Regiment of Mounted Artillery

    Combat Service Support

    Logistical Corps
    Field Medical Corps
    Confederate Medical Corps
    Confederate Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
    National Administrative and Legal Corps
    Military Veterinary Corps
    Army School of Soldiering
    Physical Training Corps
    General Duties Regiment
    Army Nursing Regiment
    Amy Music Corps

    Equipment in general use

    200 x Elephant Main Battle Tank
    200 x Rhino Armoured Fighting Vehicle
    220 x Hippo Armoured Personnel Carrier
    400 x Gaur Armoured Fighting Vehicle
    600 x Giraffe Armoured Car
    350 x Buffalo Mobility Vehicle
    50 x Kouprey Self Propelled Howitzer
    70 x Bison  Howitzer
    50 x Yak Howitzer
    25 x Eland Rocket Artillery
    100 x Wisent Portable AA Gun
    3 x Emu UAV

    Offline Kermah

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    Re: The Kermah Confederation
    « Reply #11 on: January 03, 2022, 08:59:44 PM »
    THE CONFEDERATE NAVY

    The Confederate Navy can trace its history back to the late 1700's when Kinjanja established a naval force with the intention of at first competing and then later co-operating with Paracambi. Once the Confederation existed the Navy was originally put under the control of Kinjanja. Today the Kinjanjans dominate the Navy, mainly as the lifestyle of Gorotoland remains heavily tribal with a focus on land activities and Balakai lack the maritime traditions. Lots of the nations naval equipment is of Paracambian origin. Today the Navy has just over 10,000 men.

    SHIPS OF THE FLEET


    5 x Crystal Class Submarines

    1. Haria
    2. Bazin
    3. Semien
    4. Belgin
    5. Jarin

    3 x Nevis Class Frigate

    1. Qita
    2. Nagash
    3. Tankish

    4 x Grenada Class Corvette

    1. Showa
    2. Chwezi
    3. Kilwa
    4. Medri

    8 x Bloodybelly Patrol Ship

    1. Ifat
    2. Hadiya
    3. Kintampo
    4. Dhar
    5. Tichitt
    6. Nok
    7. Djenne
    8. Djenno

    2 x White-Spot Class Mine Hunter

    1. Bura
    2. Takrur

    4 x Nettle Class Patrol Ship

    1. Mossi
    2. Oyo
    3. Jolof
    4. Agadez




    Offline Kermah

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    Re: The Kermah Confederation
    « Reply #12 on: January 03, 2022, 09:50:41 PM »

    CONFEDERATION AIR WING

    The newest part of the nations military the Air Wing grew out of a more specialist need for aviation operations beyond those conducted by the Army. As a result in 1933 the Air Wing was established. It see's an even distribution in terms of proportions among the three nations. The nation has followed a similar pattern in aquiring hardware from Paracambi however in the last few years the nation explored some low cost options and has seen them acquire some East Moreland manufactured products. Currently just over 11,000 men serve in the Air Wing

    CURRENT INVENTORY

    38 x F-20 Loggerhead Multi Role Fighter
    12 x F-19 Leatherback Multi-Role Fighter
    4 x E-20 Logger Electronic Warfare Aircraft
    10 x GR-3 Gull Ground Attack Aircraft
    15 x C-3 Herringbone Cargo Aircraft
    10 x C-47 Ringbaum Cargo Aircraft
    7 x Lifter Helicopter
    8 x H-3 Oryx Helicopter
    15 x T-7 Willow Trainer
    20 x Dragonling Trainer / Light Fighter

    Offline Kermah

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    Re: The Kermah Confederation
    « Reply #13 on: January 20, 2022, 10:52:05 PM »

    KERMAH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

    Football is a national obsession in the Confederation and this is visible in the sheer number of competitions that are run. The Kermah Football Association oversees all of these and was founded in 1908. Broadly speaking the KFA runs two types of competition. The bread and butter of the KFA is the Confederation Pyramid, a structure of leagues that go from the Confederacy wide Confederation Super League (CSL) to district teams within towns. The more heated part of the sport however is the Kermah Shield, an annual tournament modelled on a world cup but played between teams representing Kinjanja, Balakai and the various tribes that make up Gotoroland. The Pyramid games tend to run from August to April and players performances generally determine if they then are selected for their "Nation" in the Kermah Shield which runs from April to early June.






    The Confederation Super League was established in 2007 when it was determined that the nations footballing structure needed to adapt to attract more investment, develop competition and help support the national teams development. The League is made up of 18 teams who play each other home and away. The winners of games get three points with one awarded for a draw. If teams are level on points their position is determined first by how many goals they have scored, then goal difference before finally the aggregate score between the teams over the season. 

    Current teams.


    1. Isiobodo Capitals
    2. Balakianda F.C
    3. Mudiwata Sundowns
    4. Luzdidi Chiefs
    5. Dlamini Aces
    6. Diamond Star
    7. Amarala AFC
    8. Balakianda Royals
    9. National Sports Academy
    10. Ranat Athletic
    11. Khawa Borders
    12. Tshabong Swifts
    13. Mabuasehube Town
    14. Lokgwabe Reds
    15. Dlamini United
    16. Hukuntsi Kings
    17. Lehututu Antlers
    18. Monong Jaguars

    Past Winners


    2007/2008 - Hukuntsi Kings
    2008/2009 - Tshabong Swifts
    2009/2010 - National Sports Academy
    2010/2011 - Balakianda Royals
    2011/2012 - Balakianda Royals
    2012/2013 - Isiobodo Capitals
    2013/2014 - Dlamini United
    2014/2015 - Lokgwabe Reds
    2015/2016 - Ranat Athletic
    2016/2017 - Lokgwabe Reds
    2017/2018 - Ranat Athletic
    2018/2019 - Ranat Athletic
    2019/2020 - Ranat Athletic
    2020/2021 - National Sports Academy
    2021/2022 - TBD

    Offline Kermah

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    Re: The Kermah Confederation
    « Reply #14 on: January 23, 2022, 01:44:03 AM »
    RELIGION IN THE CONFEDERATION

    The Confederation is a diverse place when it comes to religion. Officially the state has no set religion and no laws exist that give one faith any special treatment. All places of worship must pay tax unless they gain an exemption based on proving that they make a "significant contribution" to their local community. In a broad sense there are five main faith groups within the Confederation.

    *Folk Faiths (these are sub-divided between several groups who while names of deities change they share many similarities). They make up around 40% of the population
    *Catholic Faith. They make up around 20% of the population
    *Vodou Faith. They make up around 10% of the population
    *Rastafarian Faith. They make up around 5% of the population
    *Aladura Christianity. They make up about 5% of the population.




    FOLK FAITHS
       

    The largest of the Kermah Folk Faiths is the Aboway Faith. While there are subtle differences between the various folk faiths the vast majority of them follow a similar pattern of the Aboway Faith there understanding this faith is usually a good way of understanding all folk faiths.

    The faithful believe that a series of humans grew directly out of the soil and that these began the human race. Each of these "Soil born" took on the role of custodian of a particular part of nature. The most powerful of these was the Soil Born man Aboway and as such he is the most respected. It is believed that the "Soil Born" began to have their own children and that all "Flesh Born", a term used to describe all humans since the "Soil Born", can trace their lineage back to these original humans. When the "Soil Born" died their physical bodies were returned to the soil from where they came and now act to ensure their descendants on Mundus survive. It is believed that at certain times of the year that the "Soil Born" can communicate with the world of today. Adherents arerequired to participate in frequent rituals within the year and a general communal worship once in a year at a spot it is believed the "Soil Born" came to life, during this large scale communal worship the oracles speak on sensitive issues concerning the community.

    The faith have built shrines and temples on spots it is told "Soil Born" did deeds of importance or came forth from the ground. Most of the shrines or temples or single sex with only those of the same gender as the "Soil Born" who the building is dedicated to can enter. The faith permits Priests and Priestesses as each is tied to a particular "Soil Born" Once a year a week long gathering called the Mabatado takes place where all members of the clergy gather to discuss key issues and the faithful may attend to ask for guidance or resolution of moral issues.

    At the age of 10 boys are initiated into the faith. They are taken on a ritual hunt and must drink the blood of what they kill before taking the meat to the nearest shrine. Here they are smeared in the blood and spend two days in prayer and meditation, the blood may not be removed until their mother, or female family member ceremonially washes them in front of at least 10 witnesses. At this point it is believed that the "Soil Born" may communicate with them.

    Meanwhile girls are considered to be initiated into the faith following their first menstrual cycle. It is customary that once this takes place the girls family take items with the blood on to the shrine where they are ceremonially burnt and the girl is blessed by the Priest/Priestess. At this point it is believed that the girl is now able to communicate with the "Soil Born".

    Historically once a young person has gone through a rite of passage they are classed as adults and can marry however since national laws have since superseded the faiths own this is no longer practiced. There are though usually one or two cases a year where rural families have ignored this preferring to believe that faith trumps man made laws.

    The faith believe that at death the "Soil Born" gather at a cave that permits travel between the temporal and spiritual worlds. The spirit of the dead person arrives at the cave and is judged whether their soul is worthy to join the "Soil Born". Those who worthy are welcomed into the spiritual world while those who are not are returned to the temporal and reborn into another body to be given another chance to live a life worthy of joining the "Soil Born." It is though believed that when the original "Soil Born" ascended to Mundus a further group attempted to but their souls were not pure enough to survive the journey. These are today thought to live in dark places and should someone live a life so unworthy they are permitted to eat their souls to prevent rebirth. These "Unborn" are considered to be like demons and ghosts.



    CATHOLICS
       

    There had been various attempts by Christian missionaries to bring the faith to the lands that today form Kermah. The most successful of these has been the Catholic Church who made real inroads in terms of conversions in the early 1700's. Today around 20% of the nation consider themselves Catholic however while Church attendance is high some still also carry out the rituals associated with their folk faiths.

    The faithful are headed the Archbishop of Isiobodo, Emeka Abiodun. The newly constructed Basillica of St.Arcadius was completed in 2022 and is now the home of the Catholic faith in the nation.

    The nations patron saint is St. Arcadius who is thought to have been a martyr in the 4th Century. He was killed after hiding from his community during pagan rituals that involved sacrifice as his Christian faith was outlawed. His absence was noted and he was arrested and sentenced to death. Each of his limbs were removed joint by joint until he was just a head and torso. His feast day is January 12th. It is not uncommon to see the "Banner of Arcadius" used by Catholics across the nation.


    Banner of Arcadius


    VODOU
       

    With the introduction of the Christian faith many began to adapt the new faith with more folk based rituals. This was also reinforced by a huge number of Hougon and Mambo's from Paracambi crossing the border to spread their faith to the region. With the similarities of the two faiths being apparent to many the Vodou faith did relatively well. Today around 10% of the population believe in the faith and are regularly active within their community. The Loa Erzulie (Ezili) is particularly revered as she is thought to be symbolic of a goddess of the word, love, help, goodwill, health, beauty and fortune, as well as goddess of jealousy, vengeance, and discord. As such she is equally feared and respected.

    The faithful have no real set hierachy however do recognise Emperor Benson of Paracambi as the High Hougon of the Vodou faith and as such take spiritual guidance from the Paracambian monarch in much the same way a Catholic would the Pope.


    RASTAFARIAN FAITH
       

    Around 5% of the population of the Confederation follow the Rastafarian faith. The faith spread to the Confederation in the 1930's from Paracambi. Today the faith has built several large community centres across the nation. The largest contingent of Rastafarians are of the  Bobo Ashanti Mansion. This branch of the faith is considered rather strict compared to most other sects. The Bobo Ashanti are vegan and follow strict dietary rules which includes fasting on the first Sunday of each month. The Bobo Ashanti hold some strict gender roles central to their faith. Men are in charge of life outside of the family home while women are in charge within the household. A woman is also forbidden from cooking for a man during her period as she is at that point considered "Unpure".



    ALUDURA CHRISTIANITY
       

    Formed in the 1920's the Aludura Christian Church grew out of the Catholic community feeling that the Papacy was not successful in achieving the conversion to the Christian faith. The Church puts great emphasis on the power of praying and in faith healing. The church opposes traditional Kermah religion, and sometimes burn cult images as idols. They oppose polygamy and witchcraft. In more recent times they have also turned their opposition to Vodou and Rastafarianism.

    Priests are expected to regularly minister in areas where the Church is not present and try and gain converts.