Afhaak

Afhaak is a fictional term used in a world-building context to denote a social practice involving deliberate disengagement from digital networks and external obligations. In the Afhaaki language, the word is formed from af- meaning away and haak meaning to hook or connect, roughly translating to “unhooking.” The concept centers on periodic abstention from smartphones, streaming, and online communication, coupled with participation in offline communal activities.

Typically, afhaak is observed during the annual midsummer festival in the archipelago of Nirat, lasting seven days. During that period, participants reduce external communications, gather for storytelling, crafts, and joint meals, and engage in reflective rituals intended to reset social rhythms. The practice is described as fostering interpersonal trust, local knowledge exchange, and resilience to rapid technological change.

Scholars within the fictional setting describe afhaak as a ritualized form of digital detachment rather than simply a personal preference. Variants exist in different communities, with some extending the abstention to non-digital devices and others incorporating public performances. Critics within the narrative debate its social costs, such as limited access to urgent information or economic activity disruptions, while proponents argue it strengthens community cohesion.

In modern discussions among readers and writers of the fiction, afhaak is cited as an example of how cultures negotiate technology’s role. See also digital detox, ritual, language and culture in Afhaaki fiction. This article treats afhaak as a fictional concept.