eketes

Eketes are ceremonial artifacts that appear in a number of fictional narratives as central elements in the rites of passage of an imagined culture. They are typically carved from hardwood or bone, about 20 to 40 centimeters in length, and decorated with carved faces, symbols, and pigment. Some versions incorporate metal inlays or cord bindings.

In ritual use, youths receive an ekete during coming-of-age ceremonies conducted by elders. The object is touched, spoken over, or passed along to confer responsibility, protection, or identity, and ceremonies often include songs, dances, and storytelling. Variants exist across fictional regions, with some eketes acting as staffs used in dance and others as pendants or masks that are displayed during celebrations.

Symbolically, eketes represent lineage, community cohesion, and personal development. They are traditionally preserved within families or clan collections, and losing an ekete is portrayed as a serious disruption to social order.

In contemporary speculative media and worldbuilding discussions, the concept of eketes is used to examine how traditions adapt to modernization and intercultural contact. See also: fictional artifacts, coming-of-age rituals, cultural symbolism.