Federation of Bana: Difference between revisions

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Agriculturally, the country’s most famous export—often the subject of tongue-in-cheek jokes regarding its name—is bananas, of which Bana exports more than any other country on Urth. A common misconception is that the name of the fruit is somehow related to the name of the country, or vice versa, but neither is the case. While the etymology of the Staynish-Codexian word “banana” is uncertain, the fruit has always been called “ọgẹdẹ” in the [[wikipedia:Yoruba language|Banian language]], while the word “Bana” comes from a grammatical root meaning “children.”

The State of Okunbana produces the vast majority of Bana’s agricultural products, though since New Rania joined the federation, the agricultural economy of that state has grown exponentially. In addition to bananas, Bana exports cassava, cashew nuts, cocoa, maize (corn), millet, palm kernels and oil, rice, rubber, sorghum, soybeans, and yams. Beef, pork, and chicken are all raised and processed domestically and for export in Bana. The amount of tropical rainforest cleared for livestock ranching, as well as for banana and palm plantations, are frequently subject to criticism from environmental groups, with the Banian Wildlife and Ecology Foundation estimating in 2020 that as much as 60% of Okunbana’s biodiversity had been lost due to increasing deforestation. Very few virgin rainforests remain in Okunbana, and though younger forests do remain, they have been in a steady decline since the 1980s.

The State of Okunbana produces the vast majority of Bana’s agricultural products, though since New Rania joined the federation, the agricultural economy of that state has grown exponentially. While Mikubana has relatively little agriculture in comparison, quinoa has been grown and cultivated there for thousands of years. In addition to bananas, Bana exports amaranth, cassava, cashew nuts, cocoa, maize (corn), millet, palm kernels and oil, quinoa, rice, rubber, sorghum, soybeans, and yams. Beef, pork, and chicken are all raised and processed domestically and for export in Bana. The amount of tropical rainforest cleared for livestock ranching, as well as for banana and palm plantations, are frequently subject to criticism from environmental groups, with the Banian Wildlife and Ecology Foundation estimating in 2020 that as much as 60% of Okunbana’s biodiversity had been lost due to increasing deforestation. Very few virgin rainforests remain in Okunbana, and though younger forests do remain, they have been in a steady decline since the 1980s.

Bana has a relatively small fishing sector compared to other neighboring countries with ocean access and is a net importer of seafood. This has traditionally been ascribed to the fact that Bana’s EEZ along the Strait of Vaklori is relatively narrow due to the presence of nearby Tavaris. The [[Royal Tavari Armed Forces|Tavari military]] keeps its maritime border with Bana highly patrolled both at sea and in the air, maintaining what some Banian governments have decried as a “de facto blockade” that reduces the safety of Banians attempting to make lawful use of Bana’s own EEZ. Tavaris maintains that its military presence is within its own territory and therefore lawful, and since 2020 has kept a somewhat lower military presence in the Strait as it turned its military focus to Ni-Rao and to Novaris. The largest source of seafood for Bana is [[Vaklori]], however a domestic fishing industry does exist, though not for export.

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===Lokobana Culture===

[[File:Spiti River Kaza Himachal Jun18 D72 7232.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The Loko River high in the Raonite Spur of the Danvreas Range.]]

The Lokobana nation, while today considered a constituent part of Mikubana, are a distinct cultural group who trace their origin to one of Bana’s harshest environments—the high peaks in the country’s far east, where the Loko River begins. The area is essentially uninhabited in the modern day, after the Loko migrated northward into ~~Miku~~ areas in the 12th century CE. The migration is believed to have been caused by an extended period of particularly harsh winters. ~~Lokobana~~ ~~people~~ ~~are,~~ on ~~average,~~ ~~the most religious people in~~ the ~~country.~~ ~~While~~ ~~all~~ ~~three~~ ~~nations have~~ their ~~own~~ ~~religious traditions~~, ~~in the modern day~~, a ~~majority~~ of ~~Banian~~ ~~people~~ ~~consider themselves~~ ~~religiously~~ ~~unaffiliated~~. ~~In contrast~~, ~~79%~~ of ~~Lokobanians~~ ~~consider themselves active members~~ of ~~their~~ ~~religion,~~ ~~which~~ ~~they call “Aṣa Afẹfẹ,” or “Way of the~~ ~~Winds~~.”

The Lokobana nation, while today considered a constituent part of Mikubana, are a distinct cultural group who trace their origin to one of Bana’s harshest environments—the high peaks in the country’s far east, where the Loko River begins. The area where the Lokobana people first resided is essentially uninhabited in the modern day, after the Loko migrated northward into Mikubanian areas in the 12th century CE. The migration is believed to have been caused by an extended period of particularly harsh winters. As they began to settle among the Mikubanians, they brought with them their staple crop, quinoa, which was readily adopted by their new neighbors. Today, quinoa forms the majority of the agriculture industry in Mikubana.

Banian religious traditions are highly [[wikipedia:animism|animist]], considering many things in nature to have powerful spirits within them capable of affecting the world around them. In Aṣa Afẹfẹ, the most powerful of these spirits are the Nine Winds. Eight are directions (“north,” “southwest,” etc.) while the ninth is “No Wind.” Each Wind is said to have a distinct personality and control over a different part of life. For example, winds moving to the northeast are said to be an omen of wealth and good fortune, while winds moving to the west are considered an ill portent. Lokobana people, unlike other Banians, typically have two forenames, with their second forename being that of the wind that was blowing at the time of their birth.

Lokobana people are, on average, the most religious people in the country. While all three nations have their own religious traditions, in the modern day, a majority of Banian people consider themselves religiously unaffiliated. In contrast, 79% of Lokobanians consider themselves active members of their religion, which they call “Aṣa Afẹfẹ,” or “Way of the Winds. Banian religious traditions are highly [[wikipedia:animism|animist]], considering many things in nature to have powerful spirits within them capable of affecting the world around them. In Aṣa Afẹfẹ, the most powerful of these spirits are the Nine Winds. Eight are directions (“north,” “southwest,” etc.) while the ninth is “No Wind.” Each Wind is said to have a distinct personality and control over a different part of life. For example, winds moving to the northeast are said to be an omen of wealth and good fortune, while winds moving to the west are considered an ill portent. Lokobana people, unlike other Banians, typically have two forenames, with their second forename being that of the wind that was blowing at the time of their birth.

Religious activities among Aṣa Afẹfẹ believers are often very musical. Singing is seen as an activity that brings glory to the spirits of the winds, as breath leaving the body is a way for mortals to create wind themselves. It has been a tradition at every Presidential inauguration in the Federation era for the National Choir of Lokobana to sing after the President takes their oath as a way of blessing the incoming Presidential administration and guiding the whole country to prosperity. Aṣa Afẹfẹ practices also include a particular style of meditation that features a regimented, careful way of breathing called “Centering Breath” that is designed to be relaxing and thought-provoking. Centering Breath is commonly taught across all of Bana as a stress relief technique, even by medical doctors.

@@ Line 190: / Line 190: @@
 Agriculturally, the country’s most famous export—often the subject of tongue-in-cheek jokes regarding its name—is bananas, of which Bana exports more than any other country on Urth. A common misconception is that the name of the fruit is somehow related to the name of the country, or vice versa, but neither is the case. While the etymology of the Staynish-Codexian word “banana” is uncertain, the fruit has always been called “ọgẹdẹ” in the [[wikipedia:Yoruba language|Banian language]], while the word “Bana” comes from a grammatical root meaning “children.”
-The State of Okunbana produces the vast majority of Bana’s agricultural products, though since New Rania joined the federation, the agricultural economy of that state has grown exponentially. In addition to bananas, Bana exports cassava, cashew nuts, cocoa, maize (corn), millet, palm kernels and oil, rice, rubber, sorghum, soybeans, and yams. Beef, pork, and chicken are all raised and processed domestically and for export in Bana. The amount of tropical rainforest cleared for livestock ranching, as well as for banana and palm plantations, are frequently subject to criticism from environmental groups, with the Banian Wildlife and Ecology Foundation estimating in 2020 that as much as 60% of Okunbana’s biodiversity had been lost due to increasing deforestation. Very few virgin rainforests remain in Okunbana, and though younger forests do remain, they have been in a steady decline since the 1980s.
+The State of Okunbana produces the vast majority of Bana’s agricultural products, though since New Rania joined the federation, the agricultural economy of that state has grown exponentially. While Mikubana has relatively little agriculture in comparison, quinoa has been grown and cultivated there for thousands of years. In addition to bananas, Bana exports amaranth, cassava, cashew nuts, cocoa, maize (corn), millet, palm kernels and oil, quinoa, rice, rubber, sorghum, soybeans, and yams. Beef, pork, and chicken are all raised and processed domestically and for export in Bana. The amount of tropical rainforest cleared for livestock ranching, as well as for banana and palm plantations, are frequently subject to criticism from environmental groups, with the Banian Wildlife and Ecology Foundation estimating in 2020 that as much as 60% of Okunbana’s biodiversity had been lost due to increasing deforestation. Very few virgin rainforests remain in Okunbana, and though younger forests do remain, they have been in a steady decline since the 1980s.
 Bana has a relatively small fishing sector compared to other neighboring countries with ocean access and is a net importer of seafood. This has traditionally been ascribed to the fact that Bana’s EEZ along the Strait of Vaklori is relatively narrow due to the presence of nearby Tavaris. The [[Royal Tavari Armed Forces|Tavari military]] keeps its maritime border with Bana highly patrolled both at sea and in the air, maintaining what some Banian governments have decried as a “de facto blockade” that reduces the safety of Banians attempting to make lawful use of Bana’s own EEZ. Tavaris maintains that its military presence is within its own territory and therefore lawful, and since 2020 has kept a somewhat lower military presence in the Strait as it turned its military focus to Ni-Rao and to Novaris. The largest source of seafood for Bana is [[Vaklori]], however a domestic fishing industry does exist, though not for export.
@@ Line 224: / Line 224: @@
 ===Lokobana Culture===
 [[File:Spiti River Kaza Himachal Jun18 D72 7232.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The Loko River high in the Raonite Spur of the Danvreas Range.]]
-The Lokobana nation, while today considered a constituent part of Mikubana, are a distinct cultural group who trace their origin to one of Bana’s harshest environments—the high peaks in the country’s far east, where the Loko River begins. The area is essentially uninhabited in the modern day, after the Loko migrated northward into Miku areas in the 12th century CE. The migration is believed to have been caused by an extended period of particularly harsh winters. Lokobana people are, on average, the most religious people in the country. While all three nations have their own religious traditions, in the modern day, a majority of Banian people consider themselves religiously unaffiliated. In contrast, 79% of Lokobanians consider themselves active members of their religion, which they call “Aṣa Afẹfẹ,” or “Way of the Winds.”
+The Lokobana nation, while today considered a constituent part of Mikubana, are a distinct cultural group who trace their origin to one of Bana’s harshest environments—the high peaks in the country’s far east, where the Loko River begins. The area where the Lokobana people first resided is essentially uninhabited in the modern day, after the Loko migrated northward into Mikubanian areas in the 12th century CE. The migration is believed to have been caused by an extended period of particularly harsh winters. As they began to settle among the Mikubanians, they brought with them their staple crop, quinoa, which was readily adopted by their new neighbors. Today, quinoa forms the majority of the agriculture industry in Mikubana.
-Banian religious traditions are highly [[wikipedia:animism|animist]], considering many things in nature to have powerful spirits within them capable of affecting the world around them. In Aṣa Afẹfẹ, the most powerful of these spirits are the Nine Winds. Eight are directions (“north,” “southwest,” etc.) while the ninth is “No Wind.” Each Wind is said to have a distinct personality and control over a different part of life. For example, winds moving to the northeast are said to be an omen of wealth and good fortune, while winds moving to the west are considered an ill portent. Lokobana people, unlike other Banians, typically have two forenames, with their second forename being that of the wind that was blowing at the time of their birth.
+Lokobana people are, on average, the most religious people in the country. While all three nations have their own religious traditions, in the modern day, a majority of Banian people consider themselves religiously unaffiliated. In contrast, 79% of Lokobanians consider themselves active members of their religion, which they call “Aṣa Afẹfẹ,” or “Way of the Winds. Banian religious traditions are highly [[wikipedia:animism|animist]], considering many things in nature to have powerful spirits within them capable of affecting the world around them. In Aṣa Afẹfẹ, the most powerful of these spirits are the Nine Winds. Eight are directions (“north,” “southwest,” etc.) while the ninth is “No Wind.” Each Wind is said to have a distinct personality and control over a different part of life. For example, winds moving to the northeast are said to be an omen of wealth and good fortune, while winds moving to the west are considered an ill portent. Lokobana people, unlike other Banians, typically have two forenames, with their second forename being that of the wind that was blowing at the time of their birth.
 Religious activities among Aṣa Afẹfẹ believers are often very musical. Singing is seen as an activity that brings glory to the spirits of the winds, as breath leaving the body is a way for mortals to create wind themselves. It has been a tradition at every Presidential inauguration in the Federation era for the National Choir of Lokobana to sing after the President takes their oath as a way of blessing the incoming Presidential administration and guiding the whole country to prosperity. Aṣa Afẹfẹ practices also include a particular style of meditation that features a regimented, careful way of breathing called “Centering Breath” that is designed to be relaxing and thought-provoking. Centering Breath is commonly taught across all of Bana as a stress relief technique, even by medical doctors.

Federation of Bana: Difference between revisions

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