Kabelaars

Kabelaars are an ethnic group indigenous to the Kabela Basin of the fictional continent of Vespera. The name comes from the Kabela language, with “kabe” meaning river and “laar” meaning people. They have historically inhabited the river floodplains and deltas that define the basin.

Language and society. They speak Kabela, a language in the imagined Kabelaic family, and many are bilingual in a regional lingua franca. The social structure is clan-based, organized around elder councils that oversee customary law, land rights, and ritual life.

Culture and arts. Kabela weaving and knot work, known as kabela, produce intricate textiles used in dress, banners, and ceremonial items. Music features stringed instruments and polyphonic singing; dances mark planting and harvest seasons and river ceremonies. Traditional beliefs center on river spirits and ancestor veneration, though practices vary by village.

Economy and modern status. Traditionally, agriculture (rice and tubers) and fishing sustained villages, with merchants linking river towns. In the modern era, kabela crafts, eco-tourism, and small-scale manufacturing form important economic sectors. Education and media have supported language preservation and cultural revival.

History and politics. The Kabelaars expanded across the basin in ancient times, establishing trade networks with neighboring groups. In the colonial and post-colonial era, they attained limited autonomy within the federal state of Lyria and have continued to advocate for linguistic and cultural rights. In recent decades, renewed interest in Kabela heritage has strengthened regional representation.

Demographics. Estimates place the Kabelaars in the low hundreds of thousands, with diaspora communities in adjacent regions.