Garafani

Odo (Chaka & Odo)

Eru (Eru, Aleka & Mishigi)

The **Empire of Garafani** is a vast multinational empire, making up 1/3 of the area of the continent of Alemi, and around 1/2 of its population.

The Empire was founded when Melek-Tiya (2232-2299), the King of Mehali, began to conquer his neighbours.

The subnational (and formerly independent) kingdoms are still, for the most part, ruled by their originally royal dynasties. All the constituent Kings partake in the Council of Kings to advise the emperor on legislation.

Whilst there are multiple ethnic groups and languages present in the Empire, most communication uses "City" Garafani (Yeketema), which is a creole based on Ariwa, but with influence from Tile, Yedesa, as well as some Rumic and Annite.

## Constituent Entities

Garafani, as a federal and hegemonic Empire, has multiple states within it that operate with a great deal of autonomy.

## Kingdom of Mehali

### Population

27,000,000 (estimate)

The **Kingdom of Mehali** (Ariwa: *Yemeheli Menigisiti*), is a monarchy in northern Garafani. It was founded, according to tradition, in the summer of 934. The Kingdom serves as the centre of power for Garafani, with the King of Mehali also being the Emperor.

Mehalian culture has permeated the entire Empire, with modern Ariwa culture seen to be based primarily on Mehali. It is also the most populous constituent nation of Garafani, with all three of the largest cities within the kingdom. It is ruled by Emperor Yekuno-Iyasu who, whilst governing as part of a bureaucracy for the empire as a whole, rules the kingdom as an absolute monarch. The Emperor is aided by the *Afe* (literally "Mouth") - the herald and executor of the Emperor's will as king of Mehali. The current *Afe* is *Leul* Simini-Tadwe Yezufanu, the Emperor's uncle (Yezufanu - "of the Throne" - is the surname used by the extended Royal family).

Within the Kingdom are smaller chiefdoms who answer to the King directly, but their autonomy is far smaller than that given to the constituent entities.

In regards to religion, almost the entire population subscribes to Kefitenya.

## Great Kingdom of Tobi

### Formation

* 1208 (as Kingdom)
* 1659 (as Empire)
* 2310 (vassalised)

### Population

9,800,000

The **Great Kingdom of Tobi** (Tile: *Ijoba ti Tobi*) is a Tile kingdom in the Empire. It is the largest and second-most populous of the consituent entities of Garafani. The Kingdom was established around the city of Iludu and gained dominance in the surrounding area in 1208 with the defeat of all other local chiefs. Tobi was, for a time, the most powerful Kingdom in Alemi. After suffering poorly in the Ochre Plague of 2310, which hit most of western Alemi, it was made a vassal to the Emperor. Whilst it retains its native name as "Empire", it is referred to by the Imperial government and foreign material as a "Great Kingdom", giving it precedence over all but the Emperor.

Despite its *de jure* vassalage, Tobi only pays lip service to the Emperor. It is able to veto certain Imperial Decrees within its territory and also holds some suzerainty over the other Tile regions of the Empire.

As well as being a constituent kingdom within a federal monarchy, Tobi is itself a federal monarchy. Various chiefdoms are dispersed throughout the Kingdom, with some lineages crossing over to create unusual borders. Tile law is generally drawn upon lineage and so physical borders matter less than bloodlines.

The current *Alaafin* (ruler) of Tobi is *Oba* Oluba XX Wura. He is kept in check by the Mesi, a privy council comprised of elders from all the major clans, and led by the *Bashorun* - a member of the Eunuch class. The current *Bashorun* is a man named Dudolola.

## Kingdom of Deseti

### Population

7,600,000

The **Kingdom of Deseti** (Yedesa: *Yedesiti Menegisiti*) is a constituent kingdom within Garafani. The kingdom of the Yedesa, Deseti is the third-most populous of the subnational kingdoms. The kingdom is home to 4,000,000 Yedesa - around 90% of the total.

Unified in the 19th century under the first king Semi-Matewa, the founder of Deseti's Matewic Dynasty, Deseti grew to become one of the most powerful states in North Alemi during the 19th and 20th centuries. Deseti was invaded by Mehali during the first waves of conquests by Melek-Tiya's predecessor, Tiya-Iyasu. They were made a vassal and, over the years following this, slowly adopted many of the Ariwan cultural keystones into the Yedesa culture, with the original Yehari language being replaced by the modern Yedesa language - a cognate of Ariwa.

The current *negus* (king) of Deseti is Maibeli-Golifi, who has ruled since 2473.

## Kumpoto

The **Kumpoto Kingdom** (Andu: *Ufumu wa Kumpoto*) is a kingdom located in northern Alemi. A relatively new Kingdom, it has never existed as an independent entity, but was instead established for the Kumpoto people, a subgroup of the Andu. The Kingdom is ruled by *Mwene* Mphungu II, the fourth *Mwene* (king) of the Kumpoto.