Ndweben

Dy-gein Miasgonat, a Ndweben

Ndwebe is a region mainly wooded, whose people specialize in woodcarving, both ornamental and practical. It is the only place where small homes will sometimes be carved into the thickest trees, which as a unique feature is very appealing to tourists.

For centuries, the Ndwebe have cultivated trees for their wood, using specialized soils and nutritional substances that can sometimes include natural dye. Although other cultures can make their own wooden items, Ndweben artisans mastered it. Ndwebe work has a certain delicate roundness and refinement, coupled with smoothness and durability, in every detail that cannot be found elsewhere.

## Naming Traditions

### Family names

Ndweben family names are often based on the occupation of the birthing parent and are thus more unique to an individual. They can also relate to the more specific location of the home community of a family. After the base family name, a suffix is added to specify the traditionally masculine or feminine role of an individual.

Examples of the former include Hoshgonat (child of the tanner, feminine) and Lajgonda (child of the merchant, masculine). Examples of the latter include Miasgonat (child born of the family living by the waterfall, feminine) and Bikgonda (child born of the family living on the small island, masculine).

### Other names

Unlike the majority of cultures of Paan Atta, Ndweben birth names have gendered connotations. The gender of a birth name is given based on what the balance already is in a family or larger community. A certain role is encouraged in a child, a certain archetype, to even out the balance of a group. Like the clownfish.

Feminine names are given when the community needs more artisans, defenders, architects, builders, and other occupations that stay within the settlement, taking a traditionally feminine role. Feminine-assigned children are mentored by people with these roles, and educated on these roles.

Masculine names are given when the community needs more hunters, foragers, trappers, scouts, diplomats, travellers, traders, mapmakers and other occupations that leave the settlement and make their work outside of the walls. Masculine-assigned children are mentored by people with these roles, and educated on these roles. They are taken on trips and journeys outside of the settlement, accompanying adults and exploring a wider world.

Feminine names have two sections and often more diverse letters and unique sounds than masculine names, because those with traditionally feminine occupations live and work within the settlement with a larger number of people of the same ethnicity and thus have greater need of uniqueness for identification in names.

Masculine names have one section and are more likely to use repeated, simple sounds. This is because those with traditionally masculine occupations live and work outside of the settlement, even often interacting with members of other ethnic groups. Masculine names are intentionally easier for foreigners to pronounce and remember, but still distinctly Ndweben for ease of identification.

## Culture

### Common Customs, traditions and rituals

The Ndwebe have a tradition of body tattoos, originally poked with a natural animal quill or a carved needle of bone and then inked with organic dyes. These represent an immense achievement by an individual. This can be personal, cultural, political, social, and more. These are often in patterns that emulate the grain of wood. Tattoo colors and locations depend on the region but generally, the bigger the achievement, the more of the body the tattoo covers.

These tattoos are applied by specially trained tattoo workers who complete nearly every step of the process, from making the tattoo needle and the dye, to applying the healing ointment to the finished work.

### Birth & Baptismal Rites

When a child is born, a tree is planted, that they will help grow as they grow, learning responsibility. At their coming of age ritual, wood from this tree will be used.

### Coming of Age Rites

Unlike most other cultures of Paan Atta aside from the Mitta, for the Ndwebe the coming of age ritual is not at a particular age or age range.

This takes place when a child has undergone a major achievement, as decided by the immediate family. The achievement can be very personal or effect a broad community, or anything in between.

The child's ears will be pierced with a needle and then a polished wood peg will be inserted. Over the course of a person's life, their ears will be stretched and filled with polished wood disks up to about 14 millimeters. The disks can be simple and unadorned, or richly decorated with detailed carvings, etchings, controlled burnings, and/or ink.

### Funerary and Memorial customs

The dead are covered in fragrant herbs and then burned or buried in the roots of a tree. As many family members and friends as possible will assist in returning the body to Paan Atta. After this, they will dance with no music on the place of the burial or pyre, sending their love and energy out to the deceased, dancing with their loved one one last time.

## Ideals

### Beauty Ideals

Wide hands and broad shoulders are the Ndweben beauty ideal, as are slim hips and a round nose.

### Courtship Ideals

As a proposition of courtship, a Ndweben will carve and decorate a wooden ear ornament for their object of affection. These are generally very detailed and more colorful than one they would make for themself or a family member. Natural and especially animal motifs are the most romantic. The individual being gifted wearing the ear ornament indicates returned affections.

If someone carved an ear ornament for another person and their offer was unreturned, the ornament refused, and the carver re-gifts the ornament to a different person rather than burning it, this is seen as an incredibly lazy, shallow, and insincere action. This almost never happens aside from in mythology with cautionary undertones.

### Relationship Ideals

In the ideal Ndweben relationship, partners will show their affection through the gifting of handmade items. These are not to be expensive or purchased, instead costing time and effort, a labor of love. A Ndweben who is going steady will show off these gifts to other members of the community, which is more impressive and valued than showing off purchased or imported items.