Kawd

Kawd is a fictional archipelago nation created for speculative fiction and worldbuilding. In most depictions, it consists of five main islands and numerous smaller islets located in tropical seas, with diverse coastal ecosystems and a mountainous interior. The capital is Vayra, and the populace is referred to as Kawdi.

The archipelago features coral reefs, rainforests, mangroves, and volcanic terrain. The climate is tropical, with a wet season from May to October and pronounced maritime influences, making navigation and fisheries central to life.

Historically, Kawd was settled by seafaring communities that developed maritime trade networks. In the 18th and 19th centuries, it traded with neighboring polities and was briefly colonized by a regional power before gaining independence in the early 20th century.

Kawd is depicted as a constitutional republic with a unicameral legislature and an executive president. Legal and administrative powers are split between national government and local councils on larger islands, with customary law recognized in family and customary land matters.

The economy relies on fishing, aquaculture, timber, and growing ecotourism. The Kawdian dinar (KAD) is the fictional currency. Urban centers host markets, while rural areas practice farming and artisanal crafts, including weaving and carving.

Kawdi culture emphasizes communal crafts, oral storytelling, and sea-based rituals. Traditional music features drumming and call-and-response singing. Festivals such as the Sea Festival celebrate coastal ecosystems, while cuisine blends coconut, fish, root vegetables, and tropical fruits.

Environmental concerns in fiction include coral bleaching, overfishing, and coastal erosion. In-world agencies manage marine protected areas and sustainable fish quotas to balance development with ocean health.

As a fictional setting, details of Kawd vary by author and work, and there is no single canonical version.