Mabunis

Mabunis are an ethnolinguistic group described as native to the Mabuni Islands, a tropical archipelago off the eastern coast of the fictional continent of Lirien. The name Mabuni derives from a local term meaning “shore people.” Traditionally, Mabunis combined small-scale fishing with root-crop agriculture and seasonal trade with neighboring communities. Their crafts are especially noted for beadwork, basketry, and carved wooden implements used in daily life and ceremonies.

The earliest Mabuni communities are described in legend as forming after migrations from the mainland during the early medieval period. By the late medieval era, they had organized into kin-based village clusters led by councils of elders and heads of extended lineages. Contact with foreign traders in the 16th to 18th centuries introduced new goods, coins, and, later, colonial administration, which influenced local governance and education while preserving many customary practices.

Language and culture: The Mabuni language belongs to the hypothetical Oceanic cluster of the wider Trans-Lirien family, with several mutually intelligible dialects across the islands. Efforts to standardize the language for schooling began in the 20th century, alongside documentation of traditional songs and stories. Social life centers on harvest and sea rites, with annual ceremonies featuring music played on slit drums and bamboo flutes, and community feasts that reinforce kin ties.

Geography: The Mabuni Islands feature tropical rainforests, mangrove shores, and coral reefs. The economy remains largely artisanal, focusing on fish products and handcrafts, with periodic markets that connect island communities to broader regional networks.