avotiem
Avotiem is a fictional cultural practice described in speculative ethnography and worldbuilding. It designates a ritual method by which a community preserves collective memory—genealogies, laws, myths, and historical events—through structured performance rather than written records. The term is used primarily in imagined societies where literacy is limited or ceremonial memory is valued.
Origin and etymology: In most renderings, avotiem derives from the Avoti language, with avot meaning "remember"
Practice: An avotiem session typically unfolds in a public space, led by a chief storyteller or "avotekeeper."
Social function and variation: Avotiem reinforces communal identity, passes down social norms, and legitimizes intergenerational authority.
Contemporary use: In modern worldbuilding, avotiem appears as a tool for plotting histories and social structures.