Xoyanga

**Xoyanga** (isiTshani for "faith") is the system of beliefs held by the amaTshani people. It is primarily based around the veneration of the sun, *Tayanga,* local nature spirits called *velonga*, and ancestor spirits known as *xonga*. Xoyanga was the *de facto* state religion of the diNkosi gwaTshani, as the kingdom's government maintained and built shrines to facilitate the worship of the sun and earthly spirits. After the state's collapse, however, the temples fell into disrepair, and many Xoyanga worshippers instead prayed directly to the spirits, circumventing the need for temples altogether.

## *Tayanga*, the Sun

**Tayanga** is the personification of the sun. Though *ilanga* is the isiTshani word for the sun, *Tayanga* is also usable in common speech in reference to the sun, unless the speaker is complaining of the heat. In that case, it is highly taboo for one to criticize the acts of the sun with its own name, and workarounds like "*qoho-khulu"* (great fireball) are used instead. Use of *ilanga* when speaking of the sun as a worshipped deity is not as taboo, but is considered awkward speech, the kind of mistake a foreigner who does not speak isiTshani fluently would say.

The sun is regarded as the most important entity in the world (Tshani cosmology is geocentric), as it is the bringer of warmth and life. As every plant relies on sunlight for growth, worship of *Tayanga* is conducted to ensure bountiful harvests or deliverance of one's crops or garden from pests and infections. Worship is also given during the winter, as people will wish and pray for warm weather, sacrificing bundles of wheat and other crops to ensure that the weather warms up soon. During droughts similar procedures are conducted, to appease *Tayanga*, encouraging the sun to relax and stop being so hot, thus letting rains come.

Tshani creation myths portray people as children of the sun. They believe that being in the sun's light helps bring one to happiness and righteousness, and that turning away from the sun causes one misery, and is behavior typical of thieves, cheaters, misers, gluttons, practitioners of dark magic, those corrupted by demons, or other "bad" people in Tshani culture. It is a not-uncommon belief that since the amaTshani spend so much time in the sun and have darker skin, they are "cooked well" and thus morally superior to pale foreigners. Conversely, many see light-skinned people as being "raw", or having "skins and hearts of ice", being from far-off snowy lands away from the warm light of the sun.

## *Velonga*, the Spirits of Nature

**Velonga** is the name given to the various spirits said to inhabit the world. Almost all objects are assumed to have a *velonga*, from a cloud to a mountain to a small insect, though they can also be a collective spirit. Individual trees may have their own individual *velonga*, but the whole forest also bears a larger *velonga* to the whole of itself. Only objects like small stones, dead wood, or manufactured objects are said to not bear a *velonga,* though many amaTshani insist that certain built structures like houses, hearths, and temples have *velonga*.

The various *velonga* are worshipped in various ways. The most common is simply being respectful of nature, as it is believed that the *velonga* are willing to sacrifice themselves, or parts of themselves, for the benefit of humans or other *velonga-* their explanation for why animals will eat plants and other animals, or why clouds will drop themselves into the earth as rain, and justification for logging, mining, fishing, and hunting. However, it is important to not be greedy, as it is believed the *velonga* have a system of communication and the overharvesting of one natural resource will harm the balance of nature, causing the spirits to not provide as much to humans. It is commonly believed that natural phenomena like locusts, droughts (though sometimes *Tayanga* is blamed for drought), storms, plagues, and other disasters are caused by the *velonga* enacting revenge on the people for being too greedy. Sacrifices of food and water, building and reverence of idols and shrines, and ritual dances are all various ways to appease *velonga* to either end disasters or ensure their continued bounty.

There are also said to be demons or maleficent *velonga,* called *mogwe,* that thrive in places where it is cold and dark, away from the sun. In caves, deep water, and faraway cold places, *mogwe* are said to lurk, and at night they are said to come out. In particular it is windy and cold winter nights that *mogwe* abound most frequently outside of their typical lurks, waiting to prey upon people. By possessing the body of a human or other animal as a vessel, the *mogwe* can move about at day and even breed more *mogwe.*

The larger moon of Sabrim, called *Yuwe*, is said to be the source of most *velonga,* and the smaller moon *Maluwe* is said to be the source of the *mogwe* and most negativity in the world. However, it is believed that having a small amount of negativity in the universe is necessary, and *Maluwe* is not regarded as an evil object in the sky.

## Xonga, the Spirits of Man

**Xonga** are the spirits of humans. *Xonga* are considered a subsection of *velonga,* but unique as humans are a unique creature in the world as they contain part of the sun as well. Though *xonga* are human spirits or souls, residing within the body, they can linger on after death. As such, one worships the *xonga* of one's ancestors, so that with their favor things may go favorable to the living person. Without the favor of the *xonga,* one can experience anything from small annoyances in ones life, to disease, loss in battle, or even natural disasters as *xonga* are said to be capable of communication with *velonga.*

*Xonga* are best worshipped by venerating the burial site or cremated remains of the dead, sacrificing food and water for them, or burning incense for them. Villages often have shrines where the ashes of the villagers' ancestors are stored in jars, and the whole village's *xonga* can be worshipped as a whole alongside the individual *xonga* of one's own family.