Sekis

Sekis is a fictional ethnic group and language created for world-building and speculative fiction. In most depictions, the Sekis are coastal and highland communities inhabiting the imagined archipelago of Lirien and adjoining mainland regions. The name Sekis is used as both the ethnonym and the label for the language family in various works.

Etymology: In-world etymologies trace Sekis to a proto-root meaning "people" or "home," though the exact origin varies by author. The language is described as a small, endangered branch with several dialects and a typology that ranges from analytic to moderately agglutinative.

Geography and demographics: Sekis communities are said to occupy terraces in upland valleys, mangrove coasts, and forest-fringed plains. Populations are portrayed as distributed among kin-based clans, with settlements ranging from compact villages to dispersed hamlets.

Language and culture: The Sekis language is presented as a central element of identity, preserved through oral tradition and ritual speech. Cultural life emphasizes kinship, mutual aid, and seasonal cycles. Arts include weaving with geometric motifs and wood carving; music often features polyphony and call-and-response singing.

History and contact: In-world histories describe migrations from highland terrains and centuries of trade with neighboring groups. Encounters with outsiders—traders, missionaries, or colonial powers—are used in narratives to examine cultural change, adaptation, and resilience.

Scholarly use and reception: Sekis is frequently used as a case study in ethnogenesis, representation, and world-building ethics. Critics note the importance of nuanced portrayal and the avoidance of stereotype when integrating fictional peoples into broader fictional worlds.